It is by no means an easy task to describe within the limits of this review a man who has led an active life and by his own exertions reached a position of honor and trust in the line of work with which his interests are allied. But biography finds justification, nevertheless, in tracing and recording the record of such a life, as the public claims a certain property interest in the career of every individual and the time invariably arrives when it becomes advisable to give the right publicity. It is then with a certain degree of satisfaction that the chronicler essays the task of touching briefly upon such a record as has been that of Dr. Goff, one of the men of high standing and influence in Walworth County, who, professionally, has long ranked with the leading dentists of this part of the state.
Dr. Sidney Clayton Goff was born in East Troy, this county, on January 23, 1861. He is the son of Sidney Calkins Goff and Martha (Barber) Goff, the father born in Steuben County, New York, in 1829, and he was the son of Pliny C. and Magdelane (Vorhees) Goff. The father of the subject grew up in the state of New York, and when he was about twenty-one years of age he went to Australia by sail-boat, around the cape of Good Hope, southern Africa, voyaging to the then newly discovered gold fields of Australia, and there he spent four years, returning home by way of Cape Horn, South America. Being a man who observed things, he frequently told interesting stories of his experiences in the antipodes and around the world. He was about twenty-five years old when he returned to New York, soon afterwards coming to Delavan, Walworth County, Wisconsin. There he engaged in the mercantile business, closing out a dry goods stock for an Eastern firm.
He then took up the study of dentistry with a local dentist, before dental colleges were established. About 1857 he moved to East Troy, where he took up the practice of his profession, which he continued there until January 1, 1875, having enjoyed a large practice. On that date he came to Elkhorn, to take the office of sheriff of Walworth County, to which he had been elected the previous fall, and he was incumbent of the same for two years, discharging his duties to the satisfaction of all concerned. At the expiration of his term he resumed the practice of his profession in Elkhorn and continued there with his usual success until 1883, in April of which year he moved to Perry, Iowa, and there he died January 30, 1912. He was born in 1829 and reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. His widow still resides at Perry, Iowa. He and Martha Barber were married when the town of Troy was young. She was born in Livingston County, New York. Her parents dying when she was a child, she came to Walworth County. Wisconsin, when a girl and lived here until her marriage, making her home with her elder sister, Mrs. Millard.
Dr. S. Clayton Goff, was one of three children, he being the only son: his sisters were Cora and Lena, the former having married DeWitt C West and resided at Elkhorn three or four years, then moved to Perry, Iowa, where Mr. West died, then she married Henry P. Lods. Lena married Charles F. Case and they live at Lake Geneva.
Doctor Goff, spent his youth in East Troy and Elkhorn, and he received his early education principally in the high school in the latter city, soon afterwards taking up the stud) of dentistry, lie attended the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, where he made an excellent record and from which he was graduated in the year 1883. He returned to Elkhorn and began practicing, succeeding his father, who in that year moved from here to Iowa, and here he has since remained, having enjoyed a very liberal practice all the while, following successfully in the footsteps of his worthy sire, and, like him, gaining the confidence and good will of the people.
Politically, Doctor Goff is a Republican and active in the affairs of the party. He was elected village clerk before the town of Elkhorn was incorporated as a city, having been first elected in [885, and again in 1886. He was elected a member of the village board and served on the same for a period of six years successively. In 1908 he was elected mayor of Elkhorn, and. After a most satisfactory and praiseworthy term of two years, he was re-elected and served until April, 1912, in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party alignment. He has done much for the permanent good of the city. He was a member of the county board of supervisors for a period of three years. In 1910 he was elected as representative from this county to the state Legislature, and he served in the session of 1911, making his influence felt for the good of his locality and the party.
Doctor Goff was married in 1885 to Jennie P. Britton, daughter of Charles H. and Laura (Hodges) Britton. She was born in Elkhorn, but lived in the town of Berlin, Green Lake count}-, at the time of her marriage. Her parents were originally from New York. Her grandfather, Edwin Hodges, was one of the first settlers in Elkhorn, having emigrated to this county from New York in pioneer days. Two children have been born to the Doctor and wife, namely: Rispah B., born in 1891, and Sidney B., born in 1899.
The subject and wife belong to the Congregational church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was a charter member of the local camp of Modern Woodmen, which cam]) was the first organized in Wisconsin, and was started within a year of the organization of the order.
Doctor Goff was elected chairman of the Walworth County Republican committee in 1904 and again elected to the same organization in 1906. He has been a member of the Elkhorn Cornet Band since 1878, one of the best bands in this part of the state.
In childhood the Doctor developed a natural talent for mechanical work and at the age of sixteen years he made a small steam engine which worked successfully, being well made,—in fact, there seems to be little difference between it and a real locomotive except in size. He also had a well developed talent for making toy ships, which in their completeness of detail rival the large sailing vessels. Since reaching manhood he has found recreation in collecting Indian relics and other curios, now possessing a large and valuable collection, some of them being very rare, as well as beautiful.
Personally, the Doctor is a kind, genial, obliging and sociable gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.
Goff was a member of the Assembly during the 1911 and 1913 sessions.[2] Other positions he held include Mayor of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, the Elkhorn Common Council, and member of the Walworth County Board of Supervisors. Goff also served as the postmaster of Elkhorn 1928 to 1933. Goff died on May 18, 1935, from injuries he suffered as a result of an automobile accident.
From: Beckwith, A.C. (1912). History of Walworth County Wisconsin