Elbert County GaArchives Biography of Rev. William Rabun Goss ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Chandler Eavenson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294 Biography Reverend William Rabun Goss The following biography appeared in the book "History of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia", compiled for the Christian Index, published 1881: "Rev. William Rabun Goss was born in Elbert county, Georgia April 19th, 1819. His father Horatio J. Goss, Sr. was held in highest esteem for his piety, was for a number of yers a faithful deacon of his church, and late in life, under strong convictions of duty, after being licensed by his church, preached the Gospel as he had opportunity most acceptably to the people. He had three brothers, Benjamin Goss, I. H. Goss and Horation J. Goss, Jr., whose labors in the ministry have been most signally approved by God, two of whom, Benjamin and Horatio, have been called from earth to receive their reward. After penitent confession of his sins to God, and faith in Jesus as the Saviour of sinners, he united with the church at Van's Creek, and was baptized by Rev. Asa Chandler in July, 1839. Very soon he began to take a deep interest in the cause of Christ, and a desire awoke in his bosom to warn his fellow-men tolay hold on eternal life. In 1840 he was licensed by his church to preach, and in 1845 was ordained, by the request of Van's Creek church, to the full functions of the ministry. Ever since his ordination, though working on his farm and attending to it, he has supplied churches as their pastor regularly each Sunday in the month within the bounds of the Sarepta Association. "In 1848 he moved to Franklin county, Georgia and remained there for ten years. During this time his labors were blessed of the Lord, and accessions were made to his churches each year. In 1859 he settled in Fayette county, Alabama, but from strong convictions of duty, and the great desire of his brethren, after four years he returned to his former land of labor. In 1870, Grove Level, one of the churches which he then supplied, enjoyed a most wonderful manisfestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Rev. I. H. Goss, his brother, aided in that meeting, and about one hundred were added to the church before its close. One day during the meeting, a beautiful day in August, fifty-three were baptized. "Rev. W. R. Goss has spent most of his ministerial life serving churches in the counties of Elbert, Banks and Jackson. He is a man of medium size, dark hair originally, and blue eyes. He has been married three times; first, in 1841, with Miss Priscilla Eavenson of Elbert county; secondly, in 1847, with Miss E. A. Mitchell of Jackson county; and thirdly, in 1878, with Mrs. L. F. Chandler - and there have been born to him by these marriages eight children. "As a pastor he has been faithful in the discharge of his duties, punctual in attending his appointments. As a preacher, while not eloquent, he is earnest, and his congregations hear him with pleasure and profit. He is now preaching to Moore's Grove church in Clarke county, Union, Black's Creek and the Fork of Broad River, in Madison county, having their full confidence and affection. In early life his educational advantages were very limited; but making the Bible his text- book, by close and prayerful study of its pages, he has made a most useful minister of the Gospel." [Submitter's notes: Rev. William Raburn Goss was the son of Horatio James Goss and Elizabeth Roebuck. His first wife, Priscilla Eavenson, was born on 25 Apr 1825 in Elbert Co., the daughter of George Eavenson and Mary "Polly" Hilley.] Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson