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225. Pensacola Loses a Beloved Citizen 1905

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Updated: Mar 29, 2022


Francis "Frank" Ross Goulding was originally from Georgia with his family roots dating back to Dublin, Ireland. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Frank enlisted in Company “F” of the Jeff Davis Legion of the Georgia Hussars. After fighting throughout the war he was honorably discharged in Richmond, Virginia. After the war, Frank came to Pensacola where he met a young girl named Sarah Ann Hackley. Their courtship evolved into a proposal of marriage and on February 5, 1880 they were married in Pensacola. His young bride was born in Key West, Florida in 1849 and wound up with her family in Pensacola in 1871. She and Frank brought at least six children into the world and moved their family into an area two miles north of downtown Pensacola where the Goulding Fertilizer plant was located, thus the "Goulding Community". The L&N railroad placed a train station there for the thousands of barrels of fertilizer being shipped out each year to all points in the United States. The station eventually became known as the Goulding Station in 1892.


Although one of his relatives, W. J. Goulding, was the president of the company, Frank and his wife Sarah lived in town at 800 North 6th Avenue. In fact, W. J. actually lived in Dublin and turned over much of the running of the company to other relatives. Instead of working at the fertilizer company, Frank Sr. was a lumber inspector while his son Frank Jr. was an appraiser for Mr. C. M. Sweeney. But, the nature of Frank's death was related to the Pensacola Yellow Fever epidemic of 1905 (Also known as Yellow Jack). Always one to volunteer his services to his community, he was a member of a group of men used to cordon off the city during the epidemic. His duty station on the night of September 14, 1905 was on the railroad tracks coming north into the Goulding Station (2.3 miles) from Pensacola.


His job was to prevent anyone trying to escape the besieged city that might be infected with yellow fever. That night he told his wife Sarah Ann that he would be back late so not to wait up. Around 7:00 PM, he was standing on the track with his back to the train when the engineer backed up without knowing of Goulding’s presence. The train struck the 64-year old Confederate veteran, running over him and mutilating his poor body beyond description. He lingered for a short time before he finally died in agony. A special train was summoned to bear his body to his home at 800 North 6th Avenue near 6th and Cervantes Street. Although his family had been forewarned that he was seriously injured, they were not aware that he had passed away or what shape his body was in. His body was lifted off the train and placed in a commandeered wagon and carried into his house with great love and tenderness.


Because of the epidemic, he was quickly buried in St. John's Cemetery with full military honors by his old Confederate comrades. Following his tragic and untimely death, his widow applied for her Widow's benefits as prescribed in the Confederate Pension Act. Both Henry G. Baars and Nathan Burrell Cook stood as witnesses in her behalf stating they had known her and her husband for over 25 years. Her application was approved and she received her pension of $120.00 per year on August 1, 1906. Sarah Ann would pass away in 1929 and joined him in St. Johns.

Turning Back Refugees from Yellow Fever Epidemic


Frank's tombstone in St. John's Cemetery


The Goulding Train Station




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