Leonard Goff

Leonard Goff was born March 1815 in Bedford County, Virginia.  His parents were McGhee Goff 
and Luvenia Wilkerson.  McGhee Goff and Luvenia were married in Bedford County and her bond 
was provided by her Step-father David Thomas (her father James Wilkerson having died some years 
before).  In the early 1830’s several members of the Wilkerson family, along with David and 
Susannah Humphreys Wilkerson Thomas, McGhee Goff came to Kanawha County with his family 
and settled near Kelly’s Creek Road in the Pocatalico District.  McGhee Goff apparently died not 
long after arriving in Kanawha County and Luvenia married Jesse Kelly, the son of Aaron Kelly and 
Frances Hudnall.   Luvenia and her parents continued living near Kelly’s Creek for the remainder of 
their lives, where Susannah died February 1880 at over 100 years of age.  Leonard Goff purchased 
land on Goff Mountain Road, located between Institute and Cross Lanes and he met and married 
Sarah Rust on December 23, 1835 in Jackson County, WV.  Sarah Rust was born in 1812 in Jackson 
County WV to Peter Newton Rust and Mary Morris of Westmoreland County Virginia.  They were 
related to the Rust Family of Rust Mountain,  Nitro WV (Nitro and Institute are located next to each 
other).    Leonard and Sarah had several children all born and reared on Goff Mountain Road.  
Sarah Rust Goff died June 21, 1888 and Leonard followed her in 1905, they are buried somewhere on 
top of the Mountain, probably under the new Walmart.