By: Mark Holtsberry
Dr. Doctor Craig Goings, I know, the name sounds like a typo, but seriously, this was his real name. He was born in Rumley, Shelby County, Ohio. The son of Joel Westin, who was born in Virginia, March 16, 1799, and Elizabeth (Cole) Goings, born in Virginia, February 5, 1808. Joel and Elizabeth were married November 7, 1831, in Guernsey, Ohio.
Doctor had parents who had census takers confused. Joel W. Goings, was of Indian race, a member of the Wapoo Tribe. Elizabeth, was of Irish descent. So in the 1840 census, Doctor was listed as “colored”. In 1850, while living in Shelby County, Ohio, census records list Doctor as Mulatto. Doctor was the seventh son of the family, and commenced “doctoring”, at the early age of twelve, while living in Shelby County, Ohio. In Van Buran, Ohio, July 16, 1860, Doctor married Rebecca Fox, the daughter of Archibold, a full blooded Indian, and Mary Ann (Collins) Fox. Together they had nine children.
Doctor Goings had received some college education and was known as a “Faith Healer”. He claimed that the “spirits” had imparted to him the healing powers that he possessed and used.
In June of 1863, in Shelby County, Ohio, Doctor Goings, registered for the Civil War Draft. Doctor was not selected to serve, the 1890 Veteran Census had his name down, but all the lines on the form were left blank. The 1860’s ended with the death of his mother, Elizabeth, February 8, 1869, in New Rumley, Harrison County, Ohio. She is buried in Collins Cemetery, Kettlerville, Shelby County, Ohio.
By 1870, Doctor, Rebecca and five children were living on a farm in Van Buren, Shelby County, Ohio. Doctor started to become well known, after practicing in the states of New York, Pennsylvannia and parts of Ohio.
Doctor’s father, Joel Westlin Goings, passed away, September 22, 1872 in New Rumley, Harrison County, Ohio and is buried along side his wife, Elizabeth. By 1880, the Goings family was still living in Van Buren, Ohio, but with seven children. Doctor was still farming and traveling to different parts of numerous states as a “faith healer”.
On November 5, 1881, the Goings family, settled on a farm in section 7, Washington Township, north of the Mt. Zion E.U.B. Church. Dr. Goings was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and belonged to the Masonic Lodge at Shippenville, Pennsylvania. He was elected Washington Township Trustee in 1884, as a Republican, and served one term.
By 1900, Doctor and Rebecca, were still living in Washington Township. That same year, he published a pamphlet called “The Faith Cure to the Invalids”, a nineteen page pamphlet which sold for .25 cents a copy. Dr. D.C. Goings passed away, June 1, 1911. He was buried in Middle Creek Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, north of RoseIms, Ohio
After the death of Doctor, Rebecca lived with her daughter Julia and her husband, Howard Grant in Washington Township. Rebecca passed away, August 15, 1922 and is buried beside her husband Doctor. Doctor was well known as a well to do man in his community.
Until Next Time!
