Leora was the oldest

From Leora Goff Wilson’s memoirs: “When we had photographs taken, there were always three of us in each picture–the first picture earlier was of Merl, Wayne (the baby, six or seven months old), and myself (when I was maybe two and one-half years).”

Leora was born in Guthrie County, Merl in Green County, then they moved to Nebraska, where the next three were born.

—–

“The second group was of Georgia, Jennings, and Rolla (when Rolla was about nine months old).”

Georgia and Jennings were born in Nebraska, Rolla in Guthrie County.

—–

“While we lived at Key West [Minnesota], I went with Mamma on the train to Grand Forks [North Dakota] to get their picture taken. I went along, of course, to help Momma with the little ones and to put the finger curls in Willis’ hair. His hair curled over a finger easily and I was the one who took the time to put the curl in his hair at home.”

Ruby was born during the one year they lived in the county seat of Guthrie Center, Willis was born after they’d moved back to a farm, and Perry was born during the few years the Goffs lived in Polk County, Minnesota.

—–

Perhaps their mother hoped that Clarence Zenas would be the last Goff baby, born after they returned to Guthrie County.

One more baby lived about a year, Virgil Cleon, born in Audubon County, Iowa.

All the Goff children lived into their eighties and nineties, except Georgia, who died when she was 28.