The Goaslind Family

When John was only eight, his father died, leaving John and his mother with a great deal of responsibility. Soon after, his mother remained, and the family moved to east Texas for financial reasons. John participated in farming and cultivation but could not participate in education due to the time he spent farming.

Sometime between 1850-1854, the Goaslind family was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1854, a group of Texas converts gathered to trek to Fort Kearny, Nebraska Territory to move to Utah. John was called as the lead teamster of the company. Once in Florence, they joined the Washington L. Jolly Company on June 10, 1854 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 21.

The Goaslind family moved to Herriman, Utah for two years. While there, John became acquainted with Elijah Allen of Provo, Utah and John moved to Provo. Elijah introduced John to his younger sister Susan Allen and the two were married on Independence Day, 1858 in Provo, Utah.

Soon after, the Goaslind family moved to Ogden, Utah for a job. In 1860, the Goaslind family, along with the Allen family, moved to Richmond.