James Gober, my gg-grandfather, was an ironworker and blacksmith, who became a Primitive Baptist minister in 1855 in Benton County, Alabama. My sister Carolyn Ruth Gober and I visited his grave at Old Friendship Cemetery on July 28, 1991. Vandals had desecrated many graves in the cemetery, so we could not identify his grave, nor that of his wife, Nancy Wynne/Winn Gober. This old cemetery is hard to find; we did so with the help of a Dobbs relative who lived nearby. (Written by Bonnie Gober Crocker, gg-granddaughter.)
_____

1840 U.S. Federal Census:
Name: James Gober [James Gaber]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Benton, Alabama
Birth Year: abt 1811 Age: 29
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 5
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 5
_____

1870 U.S. Federal Census:
Name: James Goben [James Gober]
Age in 1870: 59
Birth Year: abt 1811
Birthplace: Georgia
Home in 1870: Frankfort, Franklin, Alabama
Race: White Gender: Male
Post Office: Frankfort
Household Members: Name Age
James Goben 59
Nancy Goben 56
George Goben 17
Emeline Goben 14
Jasper Goben 10
Henry Hovarter 22
_____
MINUTES
Minutes of the Little Vine Association of Primitive Baptists, Held with New Hope Church, Marion County, Alabama on Friday before the Third Sunday in September 1890

Through the goodness of the allwise Creator, the churches composing the Little Vine Association have once more been permitted to meet by delegation pursuant to adjournment with the New Hope Church on Friday before the third Sunday in September 1890. The introductory was delivered by J. A. Holcombe. After a short intermission the delegates assembled in the grove attended the business of the day after a prayer by John Godsey.

OBITUARY
In Remembrance of our beloved brother, James Gober, who was born Sept. 15, in the year of our Lord 1811, and departed this life January 20, in the year of our Lord, 1890, aged 78 years, four months and five days. He was a loving husband and father in his family, and lived in peace with everybody. He joined the Primitive Baptist Church in the year 1855 and began preaching a short time afterwards, and from that time to his death contended for the faith as it was once delivered to the saints, giving God all the honor and glory of his salvation. His departure is the absence of a well-beloved brother whose place is not easily filled. We feel his absence, but at the same time we feel that our loss is his eternal gain. We extend to his bereaved family and widow, our beloved sister, our heartfelt sympathy. May the blessings of God attend them through life and comfort them in death, is our prayer.

Done by the Little Vine Association in Session on Friday before the Third Sunday in September 1890.
_____

Children of James Gober, Jr. and Nancy Wynne Gober. All but the last child were born in Benton County, now Calhoun County, Alabama:

1. William Arthur Gober b. 3 Aug 1834, d. 31 Dec 1897 m. #1 Lucy Almeda Smith, #2 Clemie Hill Chafin. Buried Rea-Gober Cemetery in Franklin Co, Alabama, as is his second wife.
2. James Thomas Gober, b. 29 Dec 1837, d. 26 Feb 1899 m. Annie Naomi Smith. Buried Gober Home Place, Atwood, Franklin Co, Alabama
3. Mary Ann Rebecca Gober, b. 18 Jan 1840, d. 07 Dec 1871, m. Albert Lee Osborn. After Mary Ann's death, her sister widow Martha Texanna Gober Flake married Albert Lee Osborn.
4. Sarah C. Gober, b. 25 Jul 1842 m. James Monroe Jordan; burie Maud-Burns Cemetery, Colbert County, Alabama.
5. Dorcas E. Gober, b. circa 1847 m. Dock Flake
6. Martha Texanna Gober, b. 31 Mar 1850 m. #1 James Flake, #2 Albert Lee Osborn
7. George Washington Gober, b. 6 Nov 1852 m. Mary E. Dobbs
8. Penelope Emma Gober, b. 14 May 1855, m. John Elliott
9. Newton Jasper Gober, b. 17 Dec 1859, Franklin Co Alabama m. Rachael Dobbs (sister of Mary E. Dobbs who married George Washington Gober, Newton Jasper Gober's brother)

Note: James Gober Jr. was a Primitive Baptist preacher, and was called Elder instead of Reverend. The honorific Rev. is used by me on this memorial for my gg-grandfather because some folks are unfamiliar with the term Elder as it applies to a Minister of the Gospel in this denomination. His middle name may have been Edward.