Individual Details

David signed both of his Ohio marriage intention documents in the 1830's as Magoon. It is possible he was born with the surname Magoon and he changed it to McGoon or he, for a short period of time, used the surname Magoon. More needs to be learned about his father Charles. In 1850 Census and later, McGoon is used extensively in his family. This writer has not seen documents between those dates.
In the 1820 and 1830 Census time frames he cannot be located.
In about 1825 he is apprenticed to a blacksmith by his step-father and later he apprenticed himself to a shoemaker in the area of Chagrin, Cuyahoga County, Ohio [in 1835 Chagrin renamed to Willoughby, which in 1840 became a part of Lake County. At that time Willoughby was named Chagrin and was in Cuyahoga County. In the area at this time are several Marble families (Delilah's mother's maiden name) and Delilah's father, Levi Francis.
In 1832 he is in Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio [Note: In 1806 Kirtland Township was moved from Trumball County to Geauga County in an Ohio reorganization. It remained there until 1840 when it was moved to Lake County. In 1968, Kirtland Township became Kirtland Village and in 1971 the Village became the city of Kirtland.] and is baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) church.
In 1841, David is elected Road Supervisor, Kirtland Township District 8. His father-in-law, Levi Francis, held this office and would again after the next election.
In 1848 on 1 September he signed for two land tracts in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin; document numbers 8740 and 8741; accession numbers wi1300__.169 and .170.
In the 1850 Census he is living in Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin with Delilah and their children and is a farmer.
In 1855 the Wisconsin State Census has the family living in Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
In 1856 the Evergreen City Times on 5 January printed an article on the Post Office having uncalled-for mail awaiting at the post office and listed several names of which David McGoon was one. This was republished in the Sheboygan Press on 21 March 1925. This indicates that he probably moved from Sheboygan shortly after the 1855 census.
In the 1860 Census he is living in Paint Creek, Allamakee County, Iowa with his wife and seven children as a farmer. The 1875 Linton Township, Allamakee County Atlas indicates he came to the state in 1856.
On 6 January 1862, the Allamakee Land Records (I-564) indicate David purchased 37 acres of land from Moses Marble.
On 1 September 1862, the Allamakee Land Records indicate David sold part of his land to Moses Marble.
On 15 January 1863, the Allamakee Land Records (J-150) indicate David sold Section 33 to Henry Ghost.
On 2 February 1863, the Allamakee Land Records indicate David purchased 40 acres, Section 22, Linton Township, from Joseph McCorkle, SWSW Section 22, Township 96, Range 3, forty acres, $75.
On 22 May 1865, a 4 Mar 1975 RLDS letter has David being baptized into the RLDS church at Paint Creek, Allamakee County, Iowa by David. M. Gamit (Gamet) and ordained as an Elder on same date and were members of the Volney Congregation.
On 16 December 1867, the Allamakee Land Records indicate David sold land, Section 16, Linton Township, to his son-in-law Charles Vaughn; Recorded Book R, Page 219, NWSE Section 16, Township 96, Range 4, 41 acres, $150.
In a 22 March 1870 letter to The True L.D. Saints' Herald he indicates he is living in Buckland, Allamakee County, Iowa.
In 1870 Census taken August 1870 he is living in Linton, Post Office Volney, Allamakee County, Iowa with his wife, sons Prelate, John, William and daughter Abigail.
In a 7 August 1876 letter to The True L.D. Saints' Herald he indicates he is living in Volney, Allamakee County, Iowa. He indicates he has forty acres of good bottom land on Yellow River worth one-thousand dollars and is trying to exchange it for a place in Independence, Missouri.
In 1880 Census he is living in Linton Township, Allamakee County, Iowa with his wife and two sons John and William, he is a farmer and his parents were born in Canada. His son Joseph and family are in a next dwelling.
On 1 September 1883, the Allamakee Land Records (34-467) indicate David sold 39 acres to E. L. Cahoon. On 16 October he purchased land in Makee Township (34-489) and on 1 December he sold lot 2, Section 31 in Makee Township (34-531).
In the 1885 Iowa State Census he is living in Dwelling 24, Waukon, Allamakee County, Iowa; age 72, widower, shoemaker.
On 5 March 1888 he enrolls as a member of an Independence, Missouri Branch where his membership remained until his death.
In a Zions Ensign publication the following obituary is quoted: "MCGOON.--Elder David McGoon died at Waukon, Allamake county, Iowa, February 28th, 1891, of Asthma. Brother McGoon was born Feb, 1st 1813, and united with the church at Kirtland, Ohio in 1832. He was strong in the faith to the last, and died with the hope that he will come forth in the first resurrection."
From the writings of Marlene Kettley an extensive McGoon researcher: "...When David was 12 years old, he was bound out to a blacksmith who was cruel to him. The blacksmith's wife was a kind woman and helped him to escape. Then he made his way to Ohio, settling near Willoughby....David and his second wife, Delilah, were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. David was an Elder in this church..... David was an excellent preacher. He had a wonderful memory, and seldom had to refer to the scriptures for quotations but gave them from memory. He never took money for his ministerial services....."
Another account which comes from the files of William (Will) Nelson McGoon who did a lot of research, kept in contact with many McGoon descendants into the 1970's, all initiated through the memories of his father William Henry McGoon, a son of David Henry. In January 1970, Will writes, "....The McGoon farm was used for little but as a place to live. The crops amounted to about two acres of corn, grown for meal. Family stories mention only one fruit tree on the place, a plum tree in the yard, the fruit of which the smaller children ate raw. No horses are mentioned as being on the farm, nor any cows. Only one old red oxen is mentioned which was used to drag up trees for firewood. The log house was never finished in the lifetime of David. In the late 1850's David H. became an "itinerant" preacher. He had joined the Reorganized Latter Day Saints church about 1854 [Editor Note: 1832 into LDS; 1865 into RLDS, ordained Elder) and was ordained an elder. David traveled about the countryside 'preaching the Gospel' and taking no pay for his labors in the ministry. Though his family was destitute, David continued to 'spread' the good word. When at home between missions David did shoe repair (cobbler) work for his neighbours and earned a few dimes for salt, tea and other staples. The family lived mostly on the charity of a son-in-law Charles (Charlie) Vaughan, husband of Sarah Ann. Charles was a talented farmer and became prosperous through hard work and management. The sons of David 'worked out' in summers and earned their own clothes. In winter the boys came home and spent their winters hunting, fishing and 'fiddling' for country dances. Prelette McGoon hunted wolves for the state bounty and 'fiddled' for dances and Joseph hunted wild game for food....... After Delilah's death David H. and his son William H. went to Saint Joseph, Missouri and set up a shoe and harness shop. In 1890 they sold the shop in St. Joseph and went to Independence, Missouri and set up a shop there. In 1890 David (January) made a trip back to "The old stomping ground" in Iowa for a visit. In February 1890 [Editor Note: 1891]. David contracted pneumonia and died...."



Sources: 1] Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Volume IV L-P, Compiled By Susan Easton Black, Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1993. 2] RLDS Historian letter of 4 March 1975. 3] The True L. D. Saints' Herald, Page 280, Plano, Illinois, May 1, 1870. The True L. D. Saints' Herald, Page 538, Plano, Illinois, September 1, 1876. 4] Zion Ensign, Volume 2, Page 7, Roll Number 275, Year 1891. 5] RLDS Early Reorganization Minutes, 1852-1871, Book A, Page 549.

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Birth	1 Feb 1813	Stanstead County, Quebec, Canada
Marriage Contract	14 Dec 1833	Kirtland, Geauga County (presently Lake County), Ohio - Nancy I. SEELY (SEALY)
Marriage	1 Jan 1834	Geauga County, Ohio - Nancy I. SEELY (SEALY)
Marriage	26 Jul 1840	Painesville, Lake County, Ohio - Delilah FRANCIS
Burial	Feb 1891	Sixteen Cemetery, Linton, Allamakee County, Iowa
Death	25 Feb 1891	Waukon, Allamakee County, Iowa

Spouse	Delilah FRANCIS (1819 - 1881)
Child	David Delewis MCGOON (1842 - 1918)
Child	Sarah Ann MCGOON (1844 - 1917)
Child	George Robert MCGOON (1845 - 1869)
Child	Joseph Francis MCGOON (1848 - 1913)
Child	Prelette P. MCGOON (1850 - 1924)
Child	Simeon Levi MCGOON (1852 - 1940)
Child	Delilah Almira MCGOON (1854 - 1859)
Child	Martha Jane MCGOON (1855 - 1860)
Child	John Bray MCGOON (1859 - 1930)
Child	Abigail "Abbie" Celestia MCGOON (1863 - 1943)
Child	William Henry MCGOON (1865 - 1935)

Spouse	Nancy I. SEELY (SEALY) (1814 - 1840)
Child	Margaret Jane MCGOON (1835 - 1863)
Child	Richard Latin MCGOON (1837 - 1857)

Father	Charles MCGOON ( - 1825)
Sibling	Harriett MAGOON ( - )
Sibling	Sarah Permelia MAGOON (1810 - 1880)
Sibling	Simeon MAGOON (1813 - 1895)
Sibling	D. Lewis MCGOON (1814 - 1870)

Notes