The J. E. Gould Family

Facts by Susie Gould Cole

J. E. Gould came to Tyler from Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1890, with his wife and four children, and with his father, T. O. Gould, operated a monument works. In 1908, he moved with his family to Jacksonville and established a monument business on the I. & G. N. right-of-way. Six sons had been added.

The seven sons, John, Richard (Dick), Howard, Fred, Tom, Harry, Ike and Morgan, each had a part in Gould Monument business. Four were in World War I, and one in the National Guard. All returned to business.

Dick Gould was an expert letterer, first using hand tools—a wooden mallet and chisel, then operating the sandblasting machine. He "laid out" the letters to be blown and cut by air tools. When J. E. Gould died in 1928, Tom operated the business with his brothers, moving to Kickapoo and Cherry streets, the Gould home site. Later the business was moved to West Larissa St., now in operation by other owners.

Tom Gould moved to Llano and with his son, Edwin, who married Evelyn Duty of Jacksonville, operated a large wholesale monument business. Edwin's son, Eddie, graduated from The University of Texas, and joined in the enterprise, making the fifth generation to carry on Gould Monuments.

Each son at different times had a monument business, but the two surviving are no longer engaged in it. Harry (Ike) lives in Houston and Morgan lives in Jacksonville. Twin daughters survive, Grace Gould Fuller of Pennsylvania, and Susie Gould Cole, who resides in Jacksonville.

Mr. Gould was a president of Texas Retail Monument Dealers Association, and editor of the official publication, "The Association Journal of Texas." He was active in Woodmen of World Lodge, being Council Commander for a number of years. The family were members of the First Christian Church.

Shortly before J. E. Gould's death, the last of his works was set in the Jacksonville City Park. It is the World War I "Soldier Monument." J. E. Gould and his sons will be remembered for their memorials in our history.

J. E. Gould, who came here in 1903.

Gould Granite & Marble Co. as it appeared about 1915. J. E. Gould is second from left.