John Lawrence (or Leonard) Goats

That is a very interesting article . I wonder if perhaps your Fraley line might be of relation to my Benjamin Franklin Fraley family also of Floyd County , KY . My line went to Estill County , KY and became part of the Smyth branch of my Bush family . Thanks . Scott Bush

John Leonard Goates was my great-great-grandfather. He was the son of George Goates and Elizabeth Roe Coleman. He was married three times. The first was to Francis Eubanks on March 1, 1829 in Giles, Tennessee ( 8 children ). The second was to LaDicia "Dicey" Jane Coker on March 25, 1852 ( 3 children ). The last was to Mary Jane Wilson on September 23, 1966 ( no children). She was the widow of Joel W. Freeman who was killed in Indiana fighting during the Civil War.

John Leonard Goates died September 6, 1881 and is buried in the Goates Cemetery on Goates Mountain near Scottsville, Pope, Arkansas.
Wayne Goates

There seems to be some people claiming descent from my great-great grandfather who insist his surname to be Goats instead of Goates. An examination of the Census records can easily prove these people wrong. The 1860 lists him as John L. Goatz, in 1870 he is listed as John L. Goates, and in 1880 he is J.L. Goates. He is listed in the Goodspeeds records as John L. Goates and his Civil War record as a Second Lieutenant in the Pope County Home Guard, CSA lists him John L. Goates. In addition, the last visit to the Doctor on 26 Sep 1881 lists him as John L. Goates . The Goates Cemetery near Scottsville, Pope, Arkansas is named in his honor. Lastly, his probate record lists him as John L. Goates. His parents were George Leonard Goates and Elizabeth Roe Coleman. The 1800 Census lists him as George Goates. While some members of the family changed their surname to Goats, Goatz, Goetz, Guess, and even Geoates -- John Leonard Goates did NOT ! The records support his surname as Goates ! WG