John D. GOBEL, who is engaged in the dairy business in Clearfield, Iowa, is one of the valiant men, now so rapidly diminishing, who are a constant inspiration to the patriotic youth about them. He was born in Columbus, Indiana, July 11, 1842. His father, Stephen GOBLE, was a native of Kentucky but went to Indiana, where he married and continued to reside until his death. His wife, who was also of Kentucky nativity and was Miss Elizabeth NOWEN before her marriage, took her family to Washington county, Iowa, after the death of her husband, there reared them and lived until her life also was brought to its close. Of the ten children born to her and her husband three now survive: John D., of this review; and Mrs. E. A. FERGUSON and Mrs. J. MAXWELL, who reside at Crawfordsville, Washington county, Iowa.

In Washington county John D. GOBLE spent his boyhood, and on the 11th of August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company C, Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His first engagement was the battle of Shiloh, in which he was captured, and for fifty-two days confined within prison walls. He then took part in the forty-two day siege of Vicksburg, in the siege of Jackson, Mississippi, which lasted three days, and in the siege of Spanish Fort, which held out for thirteen days. These have been accorded the rank of important engagements in the conflict, and it has ever been a source of gratification to Mr. GOBLE to think that he contributed even his little share to the final victory of the Union cause. But in the five years of his service he also participated in minor skirmishes too numerous to mention and was in a hospital for three months after the battle at Jackson, Mississippi, in which he was wounded in his left forearm. In recognition of his bravery he was promoted to the rank of corporal, with which title he was mustered out of the army at Davenport [Iowa], May 9, 1866. When his country no longer needed his services he returned to Washington county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In 1869 he removed to Missouri, where he lived for seven years and then settled in Ringgold county, Iowa. There he owned one hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he made his home until 1894, when he sold his property and came to Clearfield, and embarked in the dairy business. He keeps a number of cows and has secured a large patronage from the citizens of the town.

In Washington county, Iowa, December 10, 1868, Mr. GOBLE married Miss Lucinda H. JOHNSON, who was born in Crawfordsville, Iowa. Their union has been blessed with two children: Wilbert I., who died at the age of twenty-seven; and Maud, who is the wife of D. BEEMER, a farmer of Ringgold county, Iowa.

The family are members of the United Brethren church, and by its teachings order their lives. Politically Mr. GOBLE is a republican, having cast his first presidential ballot for Lincoln when he was the party's candidate for the second time. The polls were held upon the battlefield and the issues at stake were brought home to the voters with a power not seen today, so no question as to his allegiance to the party upon whose support depended the salvation of the Union has never entered his mind since. Still of an impressionable age when he entered the army the memories of those days of conflict are among the most vivid which the years have left, and the experiences are eagerly rehearsed on the occasion of each meeting of the post of the Grand Army that exists in Clearfield, when the men recall how they shared one another's supplies or other incidents which touch the heart even today.

SOURCE:  CROSSON, Frank E. History of Taylor County, Iowa: From The Earliest Historic Times to 1910  Pp. 672 - 673. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008