William Thomas Goalen
1873-1916
[need photo]
William Thomas Goalen
William Thomas Goalen was one of those men who was little known throughout brotherhood, but he made a very strong impact in whatever region he worked. The following sketch will demonstrate this statement.
William Thomas Goalen was born in Down Holland, Litherland, Lancashire, England in 1872. His home village was not too distant from Liverpool. His parents were Thomas Goalen (England 1846-1877) and Alice Wood (England 1838-1877). He grew to manhood in Lancashire County, England. His father was a joiner—a particular craft in the carpentry field. He was married to Mary Jane Rawlinson November 22, 1898, at Chad, Kirkby, Lancashire, England. 1 (1 Register: Marriages 1837 - 1902, Page 231, Entry 461).
He had traveled a great deal, both by land and by sea. Early in life he worked as a fireman on a locomotive. Later he worked on a ship that sailed from Liverpool, England. He was on the ship "Cedric"2 (2 Liverpool, England, Crew Lists 1904) for about one year and received £4.10 (English pounds) per month. He worked as a Mess Steward on board the ship. That was in1904. In November of that year Goalen left for Canada on the ship "Parisian." He was listed as a crew member.3 (3Liverpool, England, Crew Lists 1904). He then crossed into the United States4 (4 Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956). He returned to working on the railroad. He eventually became a locomotive engineer, and after coming to America served a number of years on the New York Central lines.
In 1905 his wife Mary Jane came to America and joined her husband in Buffalo, New York. They lived on 330 Swan Street, Buffalo, New York. About three years after his wife arrived in New York. She and their only child died in New York. Soon after their death he was injured by a fall from his engine in the switch yards in Buffalo, N. Y., as a result of which be quit the railroad. A friend of William Thomas Goalen, J. T. Clark, wrote the following in Goalen's obituary: "Young William Thomas Goalen was reared under Episcopalian (Anglican) influence and had been a strict adherent of the same. While living in New York he went with a friend to hear a Brother Jones, of Canada, preach. As a result. he was put to studying and became convinced that there was something radically wrong with his theology. According to his own statement, he was thoroughly convinced, but It took him about three years to give up the religion of his fathers. Then he traveled three hundred miles to be baptized. Ever a careful student, he pursued his studies with a greater zeal and soon became an able proclaimer of the gospel."5 (5 G. A., November 16, 1916, p. 1150).
Goalen went west to preach in mission meetings and do whatever good he could do for the cause of Christ. He settled briefly in Seattle, Washington. While there he would make preaching trips over the Canadian-U.S. Border to Vancouver. Brother E. S. Jelley of Vancouver. B. C., Canada was trying to raise money to do mission work in India. He expressed interest in taking Goalen with him to work in that place.6 (6 G. A., February 2, 1911, p.137). Jelly wrote of Goalen: "I should like a co-laborer true and tried, as I know Brother Goalen to be." This work never materialized. Goalen began to come back East.
C. E. Coleman of Denver, Colorada wrote of a meeting by Goalen in Denver: "…Brother W. T. Goalen, of the Western coast, was with us two nights about two weeks ago and spoke to the house full of people. One lady was baptized while he was here. She has since gone from us to where there is no church, only a "babe in Christ." lt fills my heart with sorrow to see one of Christ's little ones turned out in the cold world to live or die, just as it would to see a little child shut out of doors to suffer in cold and hunger…"7 (7 G. A., April 13, 1911, p. 447).
He made his way to Missouri and held some meetings there. A report was reported in the Gospel Advocate of a meeting in which Goalen co-labored: "Brethren Goalen and Baldwin, Aubert Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., 2 baptisms, 2 by relation."8 (8 G. A., October 24, 1912., p.1173).
Goalen comes to Alabama to do mission work. The first notice of this appears in the Advocate in 1914: "Newton, Ala., May 21. There will be a public discussion between the writer and J. S. Newman (Primitive Baptist), of Glen Rose, Texas, at McKenzie, Ala., beginning on July 1 and continuing six days. The general church propositions will be discussed. W. T. Goalen."9 (9 G. A., May 28, 1914, p. 584).
By 1916, Goalen had established himself in Dothan, Alabama and the surrounding area. A report in the Advocate stated the following: "W. T. Goalen, of Dothan, Ala., has been spending a few days with us. He was here to secure a tent to be used in Southeastern Alabama. Brother Goalen is a hard worker. He reports good results from his field."10 (10 G. A., January 27, 1916, p.92).
Another report in February from the Advocate told of the hard work Goalen was doing: "A new house of worship has been completed near Dothan, Tenn. (Alabama). This is W. T. Goalen's field of labor, and success is greatly due to his indefatigable efforts."11 (11 G. A., February 24, 1916, p.189).
He came into North Alabama with the intention of raising funds to support his work in Southeast Alabama. J. Petty Ezell wrote of this endeavor: "…We were pleased to have ln our midst so many visiting Brethren. among whom were about ten preachers of the gospel, who took part in the informal meetings at 2:30 P.M. throughout the week, and one of whom preached daily at the noon hour near the Louisville and Nashville Railroad shops. Brother W. T. Goalen remained over and preached for us on Sunday and Sunday night…J. Petty Ezell."12 (12 G. A., February 24, 1916, p. 196).
It is interesting that Goalen was drawn to the railroad shops of which he would have been quite familiar, as we have already learned—he had been a railroad man. Goalen reported on his fund-raising project for Southeast Alabama: "W. T. Goalen, of Dothan, Ala., who has been visiting some of the churches in an effort to secure funds for mission work in Southeastern Alabama, has been successful. He writes from Paducah, Ky.: "Please report through the Gospel Advocate that the following donations were received for the seating of the tent so kindly donated to me by the Twelfth Avenue congregation, in Nashville, Tenn., for the work in Southeast Alabama: Manchester, Tenn., $3; New Decatur, Ala., $8; Elkmont, Ala., $6; Columbia, Tenn., $9.66; Fayetteville, Tenn., $13; Lewisburg, Tenn., $16; Petersburg, Tenn., $8.10; Lawrenceburg, Tenn., $7; Sheffield, Ala., $'7.95; Iuka, Miss., $5; Corinth, Miss., 50 cents; Henderson, Tenn., $4.50; Jackson, Tenn., $7.10; Trenton, Tenn., $7.50; Obion, Tenn., $7. Total, $100.31."13 (13 G. A., March 9, 1916, p. 238).
Goalen returned to Dothan with the money and preached some on his return. This was reported also, in the Advocate: "W. T. Goalen, of Dothan, Ala., preached at Twelfth Avenue, this city, last Sunday."14 (14 G. A., March 16, 1916, p. 268).
While back in Dothan he held a tent meeting in Dale County, Alabama. This town was in the Southeastern part of the state. He wrote as follows: "Newton, May 23.-I am in a tent meeting at this place, which began last Sunday. I am having to stay at the hotel. as there are no brethren here. The meeting started off with an attendance of about thirty people, and I hope the interest will increase so that I can get the gospel before the people. I need some help down here, but I am willing to make what sacrifice I can and leave the results with Him whose I am and whom I serve in the gospel of his Son. W. T. Goalen."15 (15 G. A., June 1, 1916, p. 550).
While in North Alabama a well-known gospel preacher went astray. He was J. H. Hill a letter of warning went out about Hill and Brother, along with other North Alabama singed This letter was published in the Gospel Advocate: "We, the undersigned, feel duty bound to give warning to the churches of Christ In Northern Alabama, also in other sections of the country concerning Brother J. H. Hill, of Hartsville, Ala. By our association with him and facts ascertained from reliable sources, we have discovered that he is aligned with the digressive element and is in sympathy with their movement. While he claims on certain occasions to be loyal to the truth, to our certain knowledge he is not. We have proof from digressive papers and from his own lips sufficient to convict any man of being aligned with them and not in sympathy with the truth. We will not take the space in this paper to give the facts which we have from papers that are digressive, also statements from his own lips and arguments he has made in defense of instrumental music and organized missionary societies. but will state that should any Church want proof they may write to W. T. Boaz, Columbia. Tenn .. or to any of the parties named, and in communion will be furnished. We seriously regret having to make this statement, but duty compels us. He has imposed himself upon congregations, holding up the Gospel Advocate and other loyal papers, claiming that he is a subscriber to them, and yet in our presence confessed that he did not report his work through any of these papers, but that he did report his work through the digressive papers. We would state to the brethren everywhere, if you do not want the minds of the unsuspecting poisoned in your congregations, and if you want to preserve the purity of the faith, men of his type should be kept out of your pulpits. Signed J. T. Harris, Florence. Ala.: W. C. Phillips, Cleveland, Tenn.: W. T. Goalen, Dothan, Ala.; R. L. Shook, Belmont, Miss.; H. W. Jernigan, Bridgeport. Ala.: W. T Boaz, Columbia, Tenn.16 (16 G. A., May 18, 1916, p. 501).
This letter revealed the conservatism that Goalen held. He was a man of the Book and there was no variation with him. Sometime after the Newton meeting he returned to North Alabama and remained in to Limestone County to keep some meeting appointments he had previously made. The results of one of these appointments was given by a Brother Ashford Todd: "Elkmont, August 8.-Some real apostolic missionary work is being done near here by Brother W. T. Goalen, of Dothan. He has just closed a meeting at Pettusville, with ten baptisms. There are a few disciples around there and he is going to get them to keeping house for the Lord. They will in all probability build a meetinghouse this fall. He goes from there to Veto, on the Tennessee-Alabama line. where he goes by invitation of some who heard him at Pettusville. They have secured the Methodist meetinghouse for him, a thing the Methodists at Pettusville would not permit. We feel that Brother Goalen deserves the hearty recommendation of the brethren everywhere for his willingness to sacrifice and work so much for the cause. 1f the work demands, he will be in and near this county for some weeks yet. Ashford Todd."17 (17 G. A., August 17, 1916, p. 830).
Little more than a month later Goalen sent a report on his work in that region: "Veto, September 19.-The work in this part of Limestone County is progressing slowly, but surely. I used the Lynnville and Pulaski tent at Holland's Gin for two weeks, with four additions to the one body, and got a band of disciples there to meet at their homes and keep house for the Lord. From there I took the tent to Pettusville and preached for ten days, with a good deal of opposition from the sectarians there; but three precious souls obeyed the Lord, and the brethren there intend to build them a house for worship on the Lord's day. They meet in the schoolhouse and now have a membership of twenty-six. Any help that any of the brethren may send to them, in care of Ashford Todd, Elkmont, Ala., for the purpose of building them a church home, will be appreciated.-W. T. Goalen."18 (18G. A., September 28, 1916, p. 974).
A month later on October 31, 1916, the end of earthly labors came. The sad news of Goalen's death was circulated. Brother J. T. Clark broke the news to the brotherhood in the pages of the Gospel Advocate and the Firm Foundation. His first note was passed on by the editors of the Advocate: "We have received the sad news of the death of W. T. Goalen, who has been a very useful evangelist in Alabama and whose reports have appeared in our columns. He died, after a three-weeks' illness, at Elkmont, Ala., on October 31. The funeral services were conducted by J. T. Clark, J. Petty Ezell, and Mitchell Pullias. We will print a longer notice of this good man in an early issue, for which we are indebted to Brother Clark."19 (19 G. A., November 9, 1916, 1916, p. 1117).
J. T. Clark wrote a lengthy obituary and practically gave Goalen's entire life, from which this writer used excerpts in this biographical sketch. Clark's introduction to the obituary: "While attending the reunion of the Orphans' Home at Columbia, Tenn., on October 31, l was summoned by long-distance telephone to Elkmont. Ala., to attend the funeral of Brother W. T. Goalen, who died at that place at five o'clock that morning of typhoid fever… He had labored at points in the West, but for several years had been doing mission work in Alabama. Last July he held a meeting at Pettusville, Ala., and succeeded in establishing a congregation under most bitter denominational persecution. He was engaged in helping to get out the lumber with which to erect their house of worship when he was stricken. I had the pleasure to have Brother Goalen with me for a few days last summer in a tent meeting at Hayes Mill, Ala. He was a co-laborer whom any man might rejoice to have with him. Being thoroughly familiar with the Holy Scriptures, his faith, zeal. and courage knew no bounds, save those set by God's word. Brother Goalen died, after a three weeks' illness at the home of Brother and Sister Robert Morris, whose home had been his home and who had been as father and mother, brother and sister, to him, indeed Brother Petty Ezell. Brother C. M. Pullias, and the writer conducted the funeral exercises In the presence of a large crowd of sorrowing friends and brethren. Though in a foreign land and in the midst of people who were absolute strangers until just a few months ago, yet I do not think I ever saw any man more genuinely wept over than was he. Today he rests from his labor, and the works of a godly, consecrated life follow after him."20 (20 G. A., November 16, 1916, p. 1150).
Goalen left a lasting impression upon the people of northern Limestone County, Alabama. The following report by T. H. Matheson will demonstrate this: "Pettusville, January 4.-I have been preaching here since last Lord's· day and will continue over the next. I have been asked to come here in view of locating but cannot say what I will do yet. This is a great field here in Limestone County; and I do not locate here, I hope someone of our preaching brethren will. There are several congregations in the county, but no preacher. There is a good congregation here at Pettusville and at Elkmont, where I heard "Brother J. T. Clark, of Pulaski, Tenn., preach last Lord's day at eleven o'clock In the afternoon Brother Clark, with several of the congregation, came out to hear me. This is where W. T. Goalen held a very successful meeting last summer and where he labored so hard with his own hands to erect a building that I hope and pray will be completed in a short time. Here, as at most places, they lack the means. So, dear brother, please say a few words in their behalf, that a contribution may be sent to A. M. Atkinson, Veto, Ala., Route 1… Pray for us and write to me, at Williston, Tenn., Route 1. T. H. Matheson."21 (21 G. A., January 18, 1917, p. 68); (Firm Foundation, January 23, 1917, p. 5).
Four years later the reports were still coming through the Advocate and mentioning Goalen's influence in Alabama. W. H. Reynolds wrote the next note which reveals the lasting influence on this area: "W. H. Reynolds, Pansey, Ala., writing to "the brethren everywhere," says: "In the year 1914 I was here in this country, isolated from the cause of Christ; and, like Paul at Athens, seeing the need of the gospel, I was pressed in the spirit, and began to preach as best I could. The next year, 1915, W. T. Goalen came to my assistance. He held a series of meetings which continued two weeks and baptized three persons into the one body. He was to come back the next year, but the Lord saw fit to take him to a better world. The people were interested and were anxious to see him come back. I am a poor land renter and have not been able to get another preacher to come. Now my uncle, A. S. Reynolds, from Texas, is coming, and can hold a meeting in July. I truly believe he can build up the cause here, if we can meet the expenses of the meeting. Will the brethren please respond to this call and help build up the cause of the Master in this destitute place? Address me at Pansey, Ala." 22 (22G. A., April 14, 1921, p. 361).
Pansey is located along U.S. Route 84, 13.5 miles (21.7 km) east-southeast of Dothan, Alabama. According to the 1910 U.S. Census, Pansey incorporated in 1902, a year before Houston County was created (then in Henry County).23 (23 U. S. Federal Census 1910).
William Thomas was one of the bright comets that appears for a brief time and then is gone from view. His life in the ministry was cut short; but that life was totally dedicated to the God of heaven and earth and his children. May his memory ever be burned into the memory of the people of north and southeastern Alabama.
-C. Wayne Kilpatrick
Herald and Review, Decatur, Illinois
Saturday, July 5, 1913 Page 11.
The Memphis Democrat, Mempish, Missouri
Thursday, September 9, 1912, page 3.
The Dothan Eagle, Dothan, Alabama
Friday, October 16, 1914, page 4.
The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia
Saturday, December 11,
1915 page 5.
Daily Telegram, Norton, Kansas
Thursday, July 7,
1911, page 4.
The Evening Star, Independence, Kansas
Tuesday, March 19,
1912, Page 8.
The San Bernardino County Sun, San Bernardino, California
Sunday April 9, 1910, page 7.
Gospel Advocate Report Of The Death Of W. T. Goalen
Gospel Advocate, November 9, 1916, p.1117
GA Obituary
Death of W. T. Goalen.
Transcribed Below:
While attending the reunion of the Orphans' Home at Columbia, Tenn., on October 31, l was summoned by long-distance telephone to Elkmont. Ala., to attend the funeral of Brother W. T. Goalen, who died at that place at five o'clock that morning, of typhoid fever.
Brother Goalen was born and reared in Liverpool, England, where his father and sister are supposed to reside at present. He has a brother in the English Army. He bad traveled n great deal, both by land and by sea. Early in life he became a locomotive engineer, and after coming to America served a number of years on the New York Central lines. About eight years ago his wife and only child died in the North. Soon after their death he was injured by a fall from his engine in the switch yards in Buffalo, N. Y., as a result of which he quit the road.
Brother Goalen was reared under Episcopalian influence and had been a strict adherent of the same. Several years ago, he went with a friend to bear Brother Jones, of Canada, preach. As a result, he was put to studying and became convinced that there was something radically wrong with his theology. According to his own statement, he was thoroughly convinced, but It took him about three years to give up the religion of his fathers. Then be traveled three hundred miles to be baptized. Ever a careful student, he pursued his studies with a greater zeal and soon became an able proclaimer of the gospel. He had labored at points in the West, but for several years had been doing mission work in Alabama. Last July he held a meeting at Pettusville, Ala., and succeeded in establishing a congregation under most bitter denominational persecution. He was engaged in helping to get out the lumber with which to erect their bouse of worship when he was stricken. I had the pleasure to have Brother Goalen with me for a few days last summer in a tent meeting at Hayes Mill, Ala. He was a co-laborer whom any man might rejoice to have with him. Being thoroughly familiar with the Holy Scriptures, his faith, zeal, and courage knew no bounds, save those set by God's word.
Brother Goalen died, after a three-weeks' Illness, at the home of Brother and Sister Robert Morris, whose home had been his home and who had been as father and mother, brother and sister, to him, indeed.
Brother Petty Ezell, Brother C. M. Pullias, and the writer conducted the funeral exercises in the presence of a large crowd of sorrowing friends and brethren. Though in a foreign land and in the midst of people who were absolute strangers until just a few months ago, yet I do not think I ever saw any man more genuinely wept over than was he. To-day he rests from his labor, and the works of a godly, consecrated life follow after him.
-BY J, T. CLARK, Gospel Advocate, November 16, 1916, p.1150
Directions To Grave
W. T. Goalen is buried in the Antioch Cemetery, just west of Elmont, Alabama. In the uppermost region of north Alabama, head west of Elkmont on Upper Fort Hampton Rd./ Hwy. 49. When you come to the crossroad of Hwy. 127/20 look ahead and to the right where the cemetery is located. If you continue straight ahead on Hwy. 49 (becomes Morris Rd.) take the first right into the cemetery and head straight in and go as far as you can go. Get out of car and head straight ahead toward the edge of the cemetery. The grave will be near. GPS below is actual location of the grave.
GPS Location
34°55'49.4"N 86°59'28.7"W
or D.d. 34.930375, -86.991312
C. Wayne Kilpatrick at the grave of W. T. Goalen
W. T. Goalen
Born 1872
Died
October 31, 1916
They who knew
him best will bless
his name and keep
his memore dear
while life shall last
Photos Taken 03.14.2024
Webpage produced 11.08.2025
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: Special thanks to C. Wayne Kilpatrick for helping to locate the grave of W. T. Goalen. Having studied his life and contributions to the cause of Christ, this page simply was not possible without him. He wrote the wonderful overview of his life and it is preserved here.