John was the second son of Peter Gough and Letitia Naulty, and was born in Ireland in 1835. For several years, beginning in the late 1850s, he lived in Philadelphia where he met his future wife, Susan McCloskey, the daughter of Michael McCloskey and Anne Mullen. They wed (though the marriage record has yet to be found), probably in Philadelphia where they were enumerated in the 1860 census and were listed in the Philadelphia City Director at #2 Nonnater’s Court.
John was in the clothing and tailoring business all his life. In 1860, he told census takers that his occupation was tailoring; his younger brother, Richard, lived with John and Susan and was John’s apprentice in the trade.
By 1862, the family had returned to Hazleton, where his daughter Mary was baptized at St. Gabriel’s R.C. Church. By 1870, John and Susan were prospering; according to the census, he owned about $6,000 in real estate and $2,500 in personal property, a not-insignificant sum in those days. John died on 16 January 1876, however, and his widow Susan remained in Hazleton the rest of her life, living for many years at 16 North Pine Street.
John and Susan had seven children in all. Their elders son Peter and two of their daughters — Susan and Catherine — entered religious orders: Peter became a parish priest, and Susan and Catherine both entered the Order of the Sisters of Mercy.
Mary, Michael, and Alice never married and apparently all stayed at home (at least, for the most part) with their widowed mother. Michael was listed in the 1895 Hazleton City Directory as a teacher at the Lattimore School and later clerked at his brother John’s clothing store, according to the 1914 City Directory. Only son John married and had children of his own.
John Joseph Gough (b. 1835, County Monaghan or County Meath, Ireland — d. 17 Jan 1876, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA)
m. about 1860, probably Philadelphia, PA
Susan McCloskey (b. April 1837, County Derry, Ireland – d. 31 Mar 1912, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA)
Children:
i. Rev. Fr. Peter J. Gough (b. Feb 1861, probably Philadelphia, PA — d. 16 Dec 1916, Pittston, PA)
ii. Mary Elizabeth Gough (b. 27 Jul 1862, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA — d. 13 Jul 1950, Allentown, Lehigh, PA); never married
iii. Susan J. Gough (Sister Mary de Sales) (b. 11 Jan 1864, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA— d. 23 Mar 1886, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA)
iv. John Joseph Gough (b. 21 Sep 1865, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA — d. 30 Jul 1932, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA); m. Anna McGeehan
v. Michael Gough (b. 1867, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA — d. 22 Jun 1915, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA); never married
vi. Alice G. Gough (b. 28 Jun 1868, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA — d. 2 Feb 1950, Allentown, Lehigh, PA); never married
vii. Catherine T. Gough (Sister Angelina (b. 15 Aug 1872, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA — d. 1956)
Sources:
- Mary (Elizabeth) Gough, certificate of death, Pennsylvania Department of Health, file #60736, 13 Jul 1953, died 13 Jul 1953, arteriosclerosis, born 27 jul 1862, Hazleton, PA, John Gough, Susan McCloskey, parents, burial at St. Gabriel’s, Hazleton, PA.
- M. Elizabeth Gough, daughter of John Gough and Susan McCloskey, born 27 Jul 1862, baptized 3 Aug 1862, Manus McMonigle and Catherine Gough, sponsors, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Register, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA.
- John Goff household, 1860 US census of population, Philadelphia PA, Ward 2, 11 Jul 1860, page 335, dwelling #2315, family #2586, ll. 27-29, married within the year.
- John and Susan Gough, 1870 US census of population, Hazleton Borough, East Ward, Luzerne Co PA, p 3; enumeration date 1 Jun 1870; dwelling #10, family #13.
- Susan Gough, 1880 US census of population, Hazleton First District, ED 151, SD 5, page 3, enumeration date 7 Jun 1880, dwelling #15, family #15, line 17.
- Susan Gough household, 1900 US census of population, Hazleton township, Luzerne Co PA, ED 58, SD 6, page 19; enumeration date 1 Jun 1900; 16 E. Spruce Street; dwelling #11, family #11.
- Susan Gough household, 1910 US census of population, Hazleton township, Luzerne Co PA, ED 41, p 2B, enumeration date 16 Apr 1910; 16 E. Spruce Street; dwelling #32, family #39.
- John Gough, estate file, Luzerne Co Court Continuance Docket, 1877 (#41, #42), Luzerne, PA
- Susan Gough, dec’d, estate records, Luzerne Co PA Will Books, file #309 of 1912, Will Book 32, page 277, Peter J. Gough, executor; will of Susan Gough; #309, page 277; Luzerne Co PA wills
- Susan Gough, widow, death certificate, PA Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, file #25198, date of death 31 Mar 1912, P.J. Boyle, John Mullen, father; Mary Mullen, mother.
- Passenger list, Acteon, Londonderry to Philadelphia; passenger #8, John Mccloskey, 22, laborer, born Ireland; passenger #10, Susan McCloskey, 20, spinster, born Ireland ; also Tuscarora, Liverpool to Philadelphia; Ann McCluskey (24, Ireland); Susan McCluskey (17 [b 1833], Ireland); arrived 20 Sep 1850 (Pennsylvania, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1800-1962, M45, Philadelphia, 1800-1882; Ancestry online, accessed 26 Sep 2020)
- Mrs Susan Gough, obituary; Scranton PA, Times-Tribune, 2 Apr 1912, p 1