Peter Goffena
Peter Goffena was born in Beaver County, Pa.. February 14, 1838, and came with his parents to Darke County, Ohio, where he remained until 1868, when he moved to Shelby County, and started in the dry goods trade at Newport. In 1861 he enlisted in the 66th Ohio, and went with his regiment to the protection of the B. & O. R. R., and in about two months to Martinsburg. Owing to sickness he lay in the hospital about three months, but followed the regiment through Virginia and Maryland until finally discharged. He went to California, where he remained two years for the benefit of his health, and then returned to this county to engage in farming and stock-raising He afterward moved to Newport, and engaged in general merchandising about fifteen years. In 1876 he took a three months’ trip to Europe, visiting England, Belgium, and France. In 1881 he was elected treasurer of the county, sold his Newport store to his brother, and moved to Sidney. He had held the ofllces of trustee and treasurer of the township a number of years. He was married June 17, 1872, to Tracy Schwartz. They have three children living, named Peter M., John J., and Samuel F. Mr. Goffena was fifteen years old before he attended school, and then his whole school life was compressed into a period of six weeks, so that his educational opportunities might be said to have been very limited.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883