William D. Goforth
William D. Goforth lives about one and a half miles south of Cheviot, in Green township, with an only daughter. The wife, now dead, was Miss Sallie Gordon, whose ancestry is traceable to Lord George Gordon, of Scotland. She died April 4, 1878. Mr. Goforth is descended from distinguished stock. His grandfather, Judge William Goforth, born April 1, 1731, was appointed a member of the State legislature and was judge of the Northwestern Territory, then comprising the district of Ohio. He came to Ohio in 1788, and died in 1805. His own father, Dr. William Goforth, was surgeon of the army in the War of 1812, and was also a member of the legislature of Louisiana, where he went in 1803, and came back to Ohio in 1816. His oldest son served in the capacity of lieutenant, and William D., then a lad of fifteen years, witnessed the engagement between the forces of Generals Jackson and Packenham at New Orleans. He also served under Scott in the Mexican war, as ensign, and planted the colors on the Mexican capitol. During the late war he carried the colors of the Fifth Ohio cavalry when they made the attack on the Louisiana Tigers at Shiloh. He was offered the pay and rank of a major, both of which he refused. He was crippled at Shiloh by his horse throwing him against a tree. His own son was in forty-seven engagements.
From History of Hamilton County, Ohio, Henry & Kate Ford, L. A. Williams & Co., Publishers, 1881