William S. Gooch, M. D., has practiced surgery and medicine at Mapleton, Kansas, for the past fifteen years, and in point of experience and general ability ranks as the first and leading member of the profession in that community.
Doctor Gooch is a Missourian and was born at Meadville, in that state February 6, 1875. His family settled in pioneer times in Northwestern Missouri and the original stock came out of England and established themselves in Kentucky along about the close of the Revolutionary war. Doctor Gooch’s Grandfather Gideon Gooch was born in Kentucky, moved from that state to Northern Missouri, and when the first news came of the discovery of gold in California he crossed the plains as a seeker of wealth on the Pacific, and died in California in 1848. His wife’s maiden name was Foster. She was also a native of Kentucky and died at Meadville, Missouri. Joseph Gooch, father of Doctor Gooch, was born at Meadville, Missouri, in 1844, was reared and married there, and has always followed farming. Since 1902 he has lived in the vicinity of Mapleton, Kansas, where he has a farm. He is a democrat and a member of the Christian Church. He married Nancy J. Evans, who was born in Kentucky in 1850. They have three children: Elizabeth, at home; William S.; and Alma, wife of E. J. Edmundson, Mr. Edmundson being associated with Doctor Gooch in the drug store business at Mapleton.
Doctor Gooch had his first educational advantages in the public schools of Meadville, Missouri. Two years were spent in the Chillicothe Normal School at Chillicothe, Missouri, and he was a teacher for three years in Linn County, Missouri. His ambition from early boyhood had been to become a physician. In 1896 he entered Beaumont Medical College, now called the St. Louis University, where he was graduated Doctor of Medicine in 1900. His first practice was done at Elmer, Missouri, where he remained six months, and in September, 1901, he came to Mapleton, Kansas, and has been looking after a growing medical and surgical practice ever since. His offices are in the Waterman Building. Doctor Gooch is a member of the Bourbon County and the State Medical Societies, the Southeastern Kansas Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He keeps in close touch with all the advances made in his profession.
Doctor Gooch owns a half interest in the only drug store in Mapleton, located on Main Street. He also has a good farm of 100 acres situated a mile and a half east of Mapleton. For a number of years he has served on the local school board, and belongs to Mapleton Lodge of the Masonic Order, the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America and the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a democrat.
Doctor Gooch was married at Wheeling, Missouri, in September, 1901, to Miss Grace Buckner, daughter of James and Elva (Lewis) Buckner. Her parents now reside in Kansas City, Missouri, her father being a retired merchant. Doctor and Mrs. Gooch have two children: Forestine, born January 21, 1906; and Marine, born May 1, 1911.