William J. Goss was born in the Little Horse Creek area in Ashe County, North Carolina on January 3, 1846 to Jehu and Aley (Gambill) Goss. William was the sixth of eleven children. Growing up, William worked on the farm, helping clear land for crops of cotton, wheat, corn, garden vegetables and tobacco.

William was the first of four sons of Jehu and Aley to enlist in the Confederate Army in 1861. From the book, Ashe County, North Carolina Heritage, 1984: "William enlisted in Co. A 37th Regt. NCT on 28 December, 1861 at the age of 16. He was wounded during the Battle of Second Manassas in Virginia on 29 August 1862. About two months after being wounded he was captured at Warrenton, Virginia. By January, 1863 he had been paroled and returned to his regiment. The Battle of Chancellorville began on 1 May, 1863 and lasted four days. As a result of his conduct during that Battle, William was nominated for the ‘Battle of Distinction' for gallantry in action. Less than a month after that battle, he was promoted to Corporal. William's luck ran out again at Gettysburg when he was captured for the second time. After being held prisoner at Point Lookout, Maryland, he was released on 2 February, 1864 after joining the 1st Regiment, U.S. Volunteers". According to family history, he was give a choice by the Northern Army of fighting against his own people or fighting Indians and he chose the Indians, with William's Regiment fighting in the west and north into Minnesota before returning to North Carolina.

On July 20, 1871 William married Amanda Virginia Graybeal, daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Shoun) Graybeal in Ashe County, North Carolina. William suffered from his war injuries and the doctors suggested a warm, dry climate, so in 1883 they moved to Pueblo by train. They farmed there for three years, but lost all their crops to hail, so in 1886 they packed up and headed by covered wagon to Fruita. As they came down Cochetopa Pass the wagons and herd of cattle were nearly bogged down in the wet sand because of heavy rain. Everyone but the wagon drivers had to walk. When the group finally reached Grand Junction they had to ford the river to get across to the "city" which consisted of a few log cabins and one 2-story hotel. Upon reaching Fruita, they homesteaded and settled in to farm and establish a thriving honey business. The children soon started school at a 2-room, 2-story building located where the old Fruita Central School was later located. The upper room was used as a church and social hall, the bottom for school. Eleven of their 14 children attended school in Fruita.

Obituary: ANOTHER PIONEER PASSES ~ William J. Goss, a Colorado pioneer and widely known and highly respected citizen of the valley passed away at the family home west of Fruita at 9:10 o'clock Tuesday morning, June 27, 1922, at the age of 76 years, 5 months and 27 days. The cause of death was a complication of heart and kidney trouble of several months' duration.

Deceased was born in Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina, January 3, 1846. He enlisted in the Union forces at the outbreak of the Civil War and served with distinction in many important engagements. He was a member of the John A. Logan Post, G.A.R., and had been a devout member of the Methodist Church since early youth.

On June 20, 1871, he was united in marriage to Amanda Virginia Graybeal at Jefferson, N.C. Fourteen children were born of this union, seven sons and seven daughters; three sons and two daughters having preceded him to the Great Beyond. He leaves to mourn his loss an aged wife, four sons, five daughters, twenty-four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

The children are: Mrs. Myrtle Pavey of Maudlow, Montana; Mrs. Ellen Kilby and Mrs. Sara Cuddy of Fruita; Mrs. Ida Cool of Glade, Kansas; Mrs. Lulu Hill of Dragon, Utah; Robert Goss of Rangely; John A., Jacob C. and Morgan Goss of Fruita. The loss of Mr. Goss will be mourned by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances made during his 37 year residence in this vicinity. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 o'clock this Thursday afternoon from the Methodist Church. Interment will be at Elmwood.

Many friends of W.J. Goss attended his funeral at the Methodist Church Thursday afternoon, where the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Wm. Pepper. Those in charge of the many floral offerings were Mrs. Lettie Prindle, Mrs. Floyd Weldon and the Misses Bessie Dalley, Gladys and Frances Kiefer and Faye Turner. The Ladies of the G.A.R. paid their beautiful tribute to the dead soldier, placing a silken flag on his breast and a large banner over the casket and singing one verse and chorus of that beautiful son, "Wrap the Flag Around Me Boys." The pallbearers were selected from the ranks of the John A. Logan post who have been called upon for the ninth time in 60 days to mourn the loss of a comrade. Several beautiful selections were rendered by the quartette of the Methodist Church choir. The remains were laid to rest in Elmwood Cemetery.