Original Highland Township Landowner Nathaniel D. Goss Nathaniel D. Goss appears to have been born circa 1804 in New York. An online LDS Ancestral file gives his full name as Nathaniel Druham Goss and claims he married Sarah Jefferies (but others say "Jefferson"), born circa 1811. Nathaniel D. Goss appears on the 1845 Michigan State Census for Highland Township, Oakland County, living adjacent to an Orvill (sic - no final "e") Goss, who is very likely his brother. Ten years later the 1850 Census includes the household of Sarah Goss, age 38, who is undoubtedly Nathaniel's wife. Also in the household is a daughter, Lucy Goss, age 15, born in New York. This would indicate the family did not come to Michigan before 1835. The 1860 Census for Highland shows "N. D. Goss," age 56, as a farmer, born in New York, with wife Sarah, age 49. Also in the household are children Alonzo Goss, age 18; Henry Goss, age 9; and Mary Goss, age 6 - all born in Michigan. This would indicate the family settled in Michigan by 1842. Living adjacent is Orvill Goss, age 61, with wife Anna, age 67(?). Also in the household is an Elizabeth Goss, age 83, born in Connecticut, who is likely the mother of both Orvill and Nathaniel D. Nathaniel D. Goss appears to have left Highland Township sometime after 1860. Milton Everett Charboneau, Land Owners & Settlers of Livingston County, Michigan, 1828-1870's, notes that a Nathaniel B. Goss and wife Sarah A., residing in Hartland Township, purchased land in Section 10 of Hartland on Oct 6, 1868, but sold it in 1870. The purchaser appears to have been son Alonzo Goss and his wife, Euthema. Later that same year, however, they resold the property to Nathaniel Goss "of St. Johns, Clinton County, Michigan." Note, in this regard, that Clinton County was home to the family of a David Goss, born circa 1812 in New York, who might be another brother or other relative of Nathaniel D. and/or Orville Goss. Nathaniel D. Goss returned to Hartland, Livingston County, by 1880 when he appears on the census for Hartland as a peddler, age 76, born in New York, with wife Sarah, age 69. Livingston County death records indicate he died sometime in 1882. |
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