William Earl Gough was born May 14, 1881, in Butler County, Iowa, the son of William Clark Gough and Sarah Ida (Betzer) Gough. After completing high school, Mr. Gough accompanied his parents to the Clarkfield, Minnesota community in 1899 and the family lived on the farm east of Clarkfield. On August 25, 1914, he was united in marriage to Rhoda Bernice Bradley. To this union were born two sons, William Bradley, now residing in New York and Robert Fletcher, who was a casualty of World War II, at the age of twenty years. Shortly after arriving in this community, Mr. Gough began buying, dressing and selling chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. During the fall and the rush season, the young people in the community were kept busy assisting with the dressing of poultry which was shipped on to the city markets. The egg and poultry business grew until Mr. Gough was known as one of the biggest dealers in this work in this part of the state. According to an article in The Advocate files, Mr. Gough did a great deal of driving in his work and when Henry Ford's first car came on the market back in the early 1900s, Earl was the first to own one in Clarkfield. It never appeared on the street without a large crowd of admiring and curious citizens present. Mr. Gough was a member of the Clarkfield Methodist Church since 1901 and served faithfully in various capacities within the church. He also served on the local school board for a number of years. He is survived by his wife and son, Bradley; a brother, Harry B. Gough of St. Cloud, Minnesota; and one sister, Mrs. E.P. Squire of Minneapolis. His daughter-in-law is the former Alice Gehant of Clarkfield, and there are five grandchildren and one adopted boy. IN MEMORY OF MR. EARL GOUGH May 14, 1881 ~ April 17, 1957 Funeral Services Monday, April 22, 1957, 2:00 p.m. Clarkfield Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Clergy Officiating, Rev. John A. Nymark Organist, Mrs. A. H. Arneson Vocal Solo, Mr. Martin Jurgenson "Beyond the Sunset" Vocal Solo, Mrs. Arden Lynne "When We See Christ" Honorary Pallbearers Geo. M. Gehant ~ Orph McCoy H. C. Meininger ~ Alonzo Wharton James Stroup ~ John Falkum Pallbearers Leland McCoy ~ Keith Stroup Harry Edmunds ~ Everett Loomis Clinton Olson ~ Leonard Falkum Final Resting Place Clarkfield City Cemetery Clarkfield, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota