BIO: William A. GOULD, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 558 & 559. _____________________________________________________________ WILLIAM A. GOULD, proprietor of a general store at Brisbin, Pa., in partnership with his brother, Thomas V. Gould, has been in the mercantile business at this point for the past twenty-two years, under the firm name of W. A. Gould & Bro., which firm also operates coal mines. Mr. Gould came here in 1877, but his native land is Wales, where he was born July 29, 1859. His parents were George and Sarah (Davis) Gould. George Gould brought his family to America in 1864 and located in Bradford county, Pa., where he became a mine superintendent and worked in the same capacity after moving to Huntingdon county, where he remained until 1873, when he came to Clearfield county. He took charge of the old Moshannon mine in Decatur township. At the time of his death, in November, 1900, he was living at Brisbin. His widow still survives and resides at Brisbin, being in her seventy- eighth year. To George Gould and his wife eight children were born, five living at present, three dead, namely: Mary E., who is the widow of William Rosavear, of Parks City, Utah; and John, William A., Thomas V. and George, all residing at Brisbin. William A. Gould was about fourteen years of age when the family came to Brisbin. During 1875-6 he was a student in the State College, near Bellefonte. After he returned home he followed mine work for a short time and then became a clerk in a store at Brisbin and later at Houtzdale, and then entered the employ of the firm Liveright & Co., with which he continued for seven years. Mr. Gould then started into business for himself in partnership with L. A. Flenner, under the style of Gould & Flenner. Some five years later Mr. Gould bought his partner's interest and conducted the business alone for some time and then admitted his brother, Thomas V., to partnership, about 1900. This firm operates mines at Brisbin, also in Knox township, and also in Cambria county. Mr. Gould is a stockholder and a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Osceola. He is widely known all through this section and has the deserved reputation of being an upright business man and a useful citizen. In 1896 Mr. Gould was married to Miss Martha E. Greist, who was born in Adams county and was young when she came to Clearfield county with her parents, Nathan and Lucy Greist, who settled at Osceola Mills. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have one daughter, Sara, who is in school. Mr. Gould has been secretary of the school board at Brisbin for nine years, having been elected to this office on the Republican ticket. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows at Brisbin and is prominent in Masonry, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Osceola; the Chapter at Clearfield; the Commandery at Philipsburg; the Consistory at Williamsport and Jaffa Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Altoona.