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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Richard E. GOULD 

Transcribed by Lyde. Note: this is abstracted data from the original biography. 

[Surnames: ERNST, GOULD, HUTCHINS, TRAVERS] 

    
RICHARD E. GOULD, owner of 225 acres in Fairview Twp., (part of the old Travers Estate) was born on Dec 2, 1859 at St. Louis, MO, and was the son of Edwin and Sophia Ernst Gould. The father was born in Exeter, England and came to America when about 23 years old. The mother was of German ancestry. They had 7 children, our subject being the second in order of birth. The other members of the parental family are Sally, a teacher in St. Louis, MO; William F., book-keeper for Donk Bros. Coal Co. of St. Louis; Edwin J., book-keeper for the Ludlow Saylor Wire Co of St. Louis; Walter Carr, RR clerk at Sedalia, MO; Harry P., resident of Fairview, Fulton Co, IL; George A., employed by Ludlow Saylor Wire Co., St. Louis. 
    
The father of this family possessed of more than ordinary enterprise, and, being a ropemaker by trade, worked up a good business, finally building a large rope manufactory in St. Louis. He invested a large amount of capital into the enterprise. About that time the wire band was invented and taking the place of the cotton tie formerly used, so affected the business of Mr. Gould as to almost cause his insolvency. Beginning again at the bottom of the financial ladder, he climbed upward, but never regained his former position. When he died he was worth about $5000. He was the first manufacturer of iron and steel rope West of the Mississippi River. 
    
Our subject grew up in his native place, followed his father's trade for some years, and then found employment as a distributing clerk in the post-office. He was filling that position at the time of his marriage and continued to make his home in St. Louis for a year longer. He then came to this county to reside. 
    
After the death of his father, he came up to Fulton County to visit his parents' old time friends - the Travers family. On Sept 2, 1884, he married Agnes A., the youngest living child of Charles and Jane (Hutchins) Travers. She was born at White Oak Springs, WI and was 11 years old when she came to Illinois.