William Goggin, the man Huntsville was almost named for, settled in what would become Huntsville, Missouri shortly after Daniel Hunt in 1821 or 1822. Other early settlers were Gideon Wright and Henry Winburn. It is said in the histories he came to what would become Randolph County from Kentucky, though it is possible Goggin came to what is now Randolph County from near what is now New Franklin. He married Nancy Dale on December 08, 1804 in Kentucky. She was daughter of Abraham Dale and Mary Catherine Riley and born near Hardin, KY. Her sister Mary who married Abraham Riley named one of her sons for William (William Goggin Riley). It is possible Nancy appears as one of the first members of Mount Pleasant Church near what is now New Franklin The Church was formed April 8, 1812. (History of Chariton and Howard Counties, Missouri, page 336). The entire family of Abraham Dale appears to have migrated to Randolph County, their names appearing in censuses throughout the 19th century. Nancy was a founding member of the Little Union Church in 1828 which was about a mile north of town (History of Randolph and Macon Counties, Missouri page 352).
Goggin was one of the four men that donated land to create the town of Huntsville in 1829. He established the first mill in Huntsville. Goggin obtained a land grant along with Peter Culp on September 29, 1827 for 160 acres. The property was located in the northwestern part of Huntsville, and it is part of this property that the land for the town was probably donated from. It is not known if he had owned land in the county prior to that. The first business licensed in the county was in Goggin's residence. It was a tavern owned by Daniel G. Davis and Waddy T. Currin. Huntsville was sometimes referred to as Gogginville before the county was formed ("How Huntsville Got Its Name" in the Higbee News, Friday, 22 Jan 1915 edition). According to a biography of George W.P. Hunt, first governor of Arizona other names in the running were Smithville and Nobletown. A Ned. Goggin who was listed as colored in the early county histories operated the first bakery in Huntsville. It is not known what relation he was to William. Ned Goggin moved to Puntam County, Missouri after making quite a bit of money. The first circuit court within and for the county of Randolph, was held at the residence of William Goggin in 1829. Goggins had several other grants in the area. Most were in Macon County in 1840. He obtained 560 acres in what is now the southwestern part of the City of Macon, Missouri. According to the History of Randolph and Macon Counties, Missouri he operated a hog farm there, and would occasionally visit it to see its operation.
He had at least three daughters, and their names were Elizabeth, Cynthia, and Melinda. Elizabeth Goggin married Alexander Gooding on July 26, 1831. A Cyntha Goggin married James Haley on April 6 1830. Melinda Goggin married John Haley on September 14, 1834. These three daughters were mentioned in his will (which I owe thanks to Todd Reed for locating). There was also a Casandria Goggin that married Hayden Rutherford. Hayden was brother of W.T. Rutherford who was very influential in 19th century Randolph County. It is unknown if she is related. Finally in the old marriage records there is a William Goggin that married a Rachel Fletcher on Dec. 26, 1846. This could be either William or a son as Nancy had died Jan. 4, 1846. There were Goggin families in Callaway County and Reynolds County as well. It is not known if they were any relation to William. It is possible he was a distant relation of Mark Twain. Samuel Clemens' grandmother was a Goggins. According to the Glasgow Weekly Times (Glasgow, Mo.) William Goggin died in Huntsville on October 20, 1859 at the age of 77. He is buried in the Huntsville City Cemetery.