1884 William Leslie Goyen married Ruth Stayton (Y2)

William Leslie Goyen: born May 13, 1884 in Coles Creek, Mississippi and died June 2, 1966 in Houston, Texas, he married Ruth Marie Stayton who was born February 26, 1895 and died October 30, 1930.  William and Ruth were married on July 2, 1912.

William Leslie Goyen married a second time to Hallie Rebecca Dickson on June 9, 1935 in Houston, Texas.  Hallie Dickson was born September 13, 1888 and died March 7, 1962.

Parents:

• John Bell Goyen born March 19, 1860 in Big Creek, Miss  – died Aug 10, 1912 in Houston, Texas and Ella Green Parker born March 2, 1865 in Big Creek, Miss – died Dec 20, 1905

Children of William Leslie Goyen and Ruth Stayton Goyen:

• William Leslie Goyen Jr (May 16, 1914 – May 30, 1915)
• John Randle Goyen (May 19, 1916 – 2006)
• Elouise Goyen  b. Jan 6, 1920 in Houston -1983
• Glenn Goyen (March 8, 1922 – Oct 28, 1922) 
• Courtney Abell Goyen Oct 16, 1923 – 1992

Siblings:

• William Leslie Goyen – b May 13, 1884 – d. June 2, 1966 in Houston, Tx. m. Ruth Stayton
• Carrie Mae Goyen – b Jan 1887 – d. Aug 12, 1975 in Illinois m. Frank Joel Cummings and moved to Ottawa, La Salle, Illinois
• Frank Bell Goyen – b Nov 1889 – d. 1940 in Harris County, Texas in an auto accident, never married
• John Parker Goyen – b Apr 1894 – d. May 8, 1955 in Tyler, Texas m. Velma Anise Majors
• Anna Vernice Goyen – b July 1896 – d. Nov 12, 1977 in Houston, Tx. m. George Everett Ostrander

William Leslie Goyen was born May 13, 1884 in Coles Creek, Mississippi.  He married Ruth Marie Stayton on July 2, 1912.  As a teenager his father moved the family from Mississippi to Gilmer, Texas.  His father worked in the lumber industry at this time.  From there the family moved to Houston, Texas where his father, John Bell Goyen began working as a contractor, which William L. Goyen continued after John Bell Goyen died in 1912. William Leslie Goyen and Ruth Marie had five children together and raised them in Houston, Texas.

William Leslie Goyen as teen in Gilmer, Texas

  

(1898 Family photo in Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas at the home of John Bell Goyen (son of William W. Goyen and Sarah Martha Bell) – Left to Right – Sarah Martha Bell far left (William W. Goyen’s widow), William Leslie Goyen, Martha Elizabeth Goyen Tipton(daughter of William W. Goyen and Sarah Martha Bell), Nancy Tipton, Sammie Tipton,Ella Green Parker Goyen (wife of John Bell Goyen), Anna Vernice Goyen, Carrie Mae Goyen, Frank Bell Goyen, John Parker Goyen ).

William L. Goyen was successful as a contractor in Houston, Texas. Structures he built can still be found. Some of his structures have been designated as historic landmarks in Houston (see below):

The 1923 Logue House on Milford Street (now the Italian Cultural Center):

Landmark Designation Report in Houston

Southwestern Bell Building built by W. L. Goyen in 1926/27:

Southwestern Bell Building Historic Heights in Houston; Historic Landmark Designation

TC Jester/Clayton Lee home built by W. L. Goyen in 1928:

   TC Jester Home

The Loggins-Hughes Building, built in 1936 by W. L. Goyen.

Loggins-Hughes building 2015;  Landmark Designation Report Houston

In 1900, 16 year old William Leslie Goyen is listed as “Lester” by the census takers in John B. Goyen’s home in Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas.

(1900 US Census in Upshur County, Texas – when John Bell Goyen’s family was living in Gilmer – see family photo at top of page.   His mother Sarah Goyen born 1829 is living at his home, with Craig Parker – likely a relative of his wife Ella Green Parker – and John Bell Goyen’s nephew Roy Tipton (Clarence Leroy Tipton) – who was Martha Elizabeth Goyen’s oldest son.  Also listed are his children Leslie, Carrie, Frank, John, and Annie.   John Bell Goyen is working as a Logging Foreman at the sawmill at this time).

As a young man William Leslie was playing with dynamite in the yard where they had a business.  He blew off his thumb and three fingers, leaving the little finger on his right hand.  He also damaged his head.  They replaced part of the top of his skull with a steel plate, although that injury did not seem to cause any long term damage as seen by the eye. (as told by Mary Louise Goyen, his daughter-in-law).

Dec 20, 1905, William Leslie Goyen’s mother, Ella Green Parker Goyen, dies and is buried in Nacogdoches, Texas.

In 1911 W. Leslie Goyen was working as a clerk with his father John Bell Goyen, living at 218 W. 20th Street in Houston Heights according to the Houston City Directory.   Also listed at that address are Miss Carrie M. Goyen, Frank Goyen – clerk, John B. Goyen (Catherine) – contractor, and John B. Goyen, Jr – student (actually John P. Goyen).

July 12, 1912 William Leslie Goyen age 28 marries 18 year old Ruth Marie Stayton.

       

(L)   Ruth Marie Stayton with William Leslie Goyen’s pipe, and with his brother John Parker Goyen’s coat and tie.  (R)  Photo Portrait of Ruth Marie and William Leslie

Ruth Stayton and William Leslie Goyen’s cousin, Hazel Lee Goyen (daughter of William S. Goyen).

Aug 10, 1912, William Leslie Goyen’s father, John Bell Goyen, dies in Houston, Texas.

In 1913 W. Leslie Goyen – general contractor, builder, John P. Goyen – clerk auditor’s office, Miss Carrie Mae Goyen, Frank B. Goyen – clerk, and Miss Anna Vernice Goyen are all still listed at 218 W. 20th Ave, Houston Heights – after their father – John Bell Goyen – has died in 1912.

1913 Houston City Directory

May 16, 1914, William Leslie Goyen and Ruth Marie Goyen have their first child – William Leslie Goyen Jr.

  

The February 15, 1915 issue of the Houston Daily Post’s social section describes a Baptist class meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Goyen, also there was Carrie Mae Goyen (sister of W. L. Goyen).  Followed up by an announcement that Mrs. W. L. Goyen would be visiting her parents (William Courtney Stayton and Mary Ella Threldkeld) in Humble, Texas:

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth607547/m1/3/zoom/

The 1915 Houston City Directory shows W. L. Goyen’s home at 636 W. 20th Ave, in the Houston Heights, and his office at 1017 1/2 Congress Avenue, Houston, Tx.

On May 17, 1915, one year old William Leslie Goyen Jr. dies.

William Leslie Goyen and Ruth Marie Goyen’s second child, John Randle Goyen, Sr, is born a year later on May 19, 1916 in Houston, Texas.

The 1917 Houston City Directory has W. L. Goyen’s contractor’s office moving to 329 Coml Bank Bldg, and his residence is still 636 W. 20th Ave, in the Houston Heights.

September 12, 1918, William Leslie Goyen registers for the draft during World War I.  He is 34 years old, lists his date of birth as May 13, 1884, a self employed contractor, wife is Ruth Marie Goyen, height medium, build medium, eyes blue, hair light, and his left hand is noted thumb and 3 fingers (his left hand was damaged as a youth).

William Leslie Goyen and Ruth Marie Goyen’s third child, Elouise Goyen, is born January 6, 1920 in Houston, Texas.

    

(Ruth Goyen with John R. Goyen and Elouise Goyen)

William Leslie Goyen and Ruth Marie Goyen’s fourth child, Glenn Goyen, is born May 8, 1922.  He dies on October 28, 1922.

The 1922 and 1923 Houston City Directories show W. L. Goyen to have an office for his contracting work at the First National Bank Building on Main at the SW corner of Franklin Ave.

William Leslie Goyen and Ruth Marie Goyen’s fifth child, Courtney Abell Goyen is born October 16, 1923 in Houston, Texas.

The 1925 and 1926 Houston City Directories list William Leslie Goyen (contractor) and Ruth Marie Goyen’s residence at 230 W. 20th Ave, Houston, Texas.

The 1930 US Census in Harris County, Texas shows 45 year old William L. Goyen as the head of household, building contractor, with his 34 year old wife Ruth M. Goyen, it shows they were married when he was 28 years old, and she was 18 years old.  The form indicates that William Leslie Goyen was born in Mississippi and so were both of his parents. The form indicates that she was born in Texas, and lists both her parents as being born in the “United States” – probably meaning she wasn’t present when the form was being filled out. She would have known that both her parents were born in Texas as well.

The children listed on the report are 13 year old John R. Goyen, 10 year old Elouise Goyen, and on the top of the next page is listed 6 year old Courtney A. Goyen – all born in Texas.

(Ruth Stayton Goyen with her brother Durwood Maxwell Stayton’s wife, Ruby Isabell Wright – maiden name).

(Ruth Marie Stayton Goyen with her sister Maurine Stayton Moon, and Maud H., and Blanche B.).

Tragically, on October 20th, 1930, at age 35, Ruth Marie Goyen dies from a cerebral hemorrhage.

William L. Goyen, has Ruth Marie Stayton Goyen buried at the Hollywood Cemetery in Houston, Texas. Leaving him alone to raise 13 year old John R. Goyen, 10 year old Elouise Goyen, and 6 year old Courtney A. Goyen.

Find A Grave site for Ruth M Goyen:  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=110802311

The 1935 Houston City Directory lists Wm. L. Goyen “carp” as a home address of 230 W. 20th Ave., Houston, Texas.

William Leslie Goyen married a second time to Hallie Rebecca Dickson on June 9, 1935 in Houston, Texas. Hallie Dickson was born September 13, 1888 and died March 7, 1962. Hallie Dickson was a widow, her first husband, Charles Edward Everts had died April 29, 1931.

The 1937 Houston City Directory shows William L. Goyen building contractor “since 1908” and wife Hallie living at 230 W. 20th Ave., Houston, Texas.  Also listed at that address are Courtney A. Goyen and Miss Elouise Goyen saleswoman.

The 1940 Houston City Directory still lists William L. Goyen and wife Hallie at 230 W. 20th Ave.  It also lists son John R. Goyen clerk at Houston Oil Company at that address as well.

The 1940 US Census in Houston, Texas lists 56 year old W. L. Goyen building contractor as head of household with his wife 51 year old Hallie Goyen. Also living there are 24 year old son John Goyen file clerk in an oil and gas distribution, and 17 year old son Courtney Goyen a student.

May 21, 1942, 58 year old William Leslie Goyen files his draft registration card during World War II.  He lists his and his wife’s address as Route 9, Box 1156, Hempstead Road, Houston, Texas.

The 1954 Houston City Directory lists contractor W. L. Goyen at 10650 Hempstead Road, Houston, Texas.  His son, John R. Goyen is also listed as a contractor, now listed at 616 1/2 E. 20th, Houston, Texas.

The 1958 Houston City Directory lists William L. Goyen and Hallie Goyen home at 1311 Yale, Houston, Texas.   At son John R. Goyen’s residence at 616 1/2 E. 20th, Houston, Texas is listed Mrs. Mary L. Goyen teacher at the DeChaumes School.

March 7, 1962, Hallie Dickson Goyen dies at the age of 73.

She is buried in the Washington Cemetery in Houston, Texas – alongside her first husband C. E. Everts.

Find A Grave site:  Hallie Dickson Goyen – Find A Grave site

At 82 years of age, William Leslie Goyen died suddenly on June 2, 1966 from Ventricular Fibrillation.

William Leslie Goyen is buried at the Hollywood Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Find A Grave site:  Find A Grave – William Leslie Goyen