E. M. GOFF, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4; P.O. Sweetwater; was born in Green Co., Ky., Sept. 9, 1818; the eldest son of a family of five children of William and Amy (Trent) Goff, an account of whom appears in the biography of William Goff; he passed his youth in Menard Co., Ill., assisting his mother to care for the family, his father having died when he was 9 years of age; he received but an indifferent education, as the major part of the hardships of caring for the family devolved on him after his father's death and he could not be spared from home. He remained at home until his marriage with Miss Clark, which occurred July 29, 1837; from this union there were twelve children, nine of whom are now living - Mary A., Jennie F., Winfield H., William A., Lee M., Augustus R., Eli E., Ida F. and David A.; deceased - Wesley, John C., and Dica D. On the 4th of July 1870 Mr. Goff sustained the deepest bereavement of his life in the death of his wife, who for forty-two years had endured with him the trials and hardships of life; Mr. Goff's success in life is greatly owning to this good woman's help and advice; he commenced life as a poor boy and has made what he now possesses by hard work and close attention to business; he owns a nicely improved farm of 405 acres; he is a self-made man. In politics a Democrat.