Ordie William Orton Gokey

1875 - 1947  (72 years)

• Name	William Orton Gokey
  	Grocery Salesman Father: Charles Cyrus Gokey (1846-1323) Mother: Ellen Eliza Johnson (1846-1923) [7, 12, 16]
  Birth	26 Apr 1875	Worcester, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A.   [8, 12, 13, 14, 16]
  Census	1880 (4 years)	Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A.   [1]
  In the 1880 US Census he was recorded, age 5, living in Northfield, Vermont with his parents.
  Census	1900 (24 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [2]
  In the 1900 US Census record seems to have been quickly done, and is filled with misinformation including names and dates.
  Census	1910 (34 years)	Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A.   [3]
  In the 1910 US Census he was recorded, age 34, living on Clearcut Street, Northfield, Vermont. His occupation was a grocery salesman.
  Draft Reg	12 Sep 1918 (43 years)	Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A.   [13]
  He registered, age 43, for the draft giving E. L. Kerr, grocer, as his employer.
  	World War I Draft Registration Card of William Orton Gokey
  Census	1920 (44 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [4]
  In the 1920 US Census he was recorded, age 44, living on Joy Street, Boston, Massachusetts. His occupation is listed as a salesman in a store. His race is listed as mulatto. His race was listed as mulatto which was probably an error.
  Census	1930 (54 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [5]
  In the 1930 US Census he was recorded, age 54, living at 37 Joy Street, Boston, Massachusetts. His occupation is listed as a sorter.
  Census	1940 (64 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [6]
  In the 1940 US Census he was recorded, age 64, living at 37 Joy Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
  Residence	1941 (65 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [11]
  In 1941 Esther and William Gokey lived at 37 Joy Steet, Boston, Massachusetts.
  Death	19 Nov 1947	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [7, 8, 9, 10, 16]
  Obituary	20 Nov 1947 (72 years)  [16]
  WILLIAM O. GOKEY — Native Of Worcester Died At Boston Yesterday Afternoon Northfield, Nov. 20-William O. Gokey, 74, died Wednesday afternoon at Boston, where he had resided for many years. He was born in Worcester April 28, 1873, son of Charles C. and Ellen (Johnson) Gokey, He spent his early life in Northfield, where he attended public schools and was always called "Ordie." He attended Albany business college and worked in the Duke Harrington grocery store and in the E. L. Kerr meat market here. In September, 1897, he married Esther Whelpy of Montpelier and with her observed their 50th wedding anniversary last fall. For many years he was employed by the American Express company in the North Station at Boston. Eight years ago he suffered a serious accident there and had been retired since then. He attended Tremont temple at Boston. Survivors are his wife, several step-children, two sisters, Mrs. George E. Davis of Northfield and Mrs. Lloyd Derick of Springfield, Mass.; three brothers, Frank A. of Bath, Me., Dr. Harry M. Gokey of Bridgeport, Conn., and Charles N. Gokey of Montpelier. The body is expected to be brought to Northfield on Friday and funeral services will be held at the Kingston & Morse funeral home Saturday, with burial in the family lot in Elmwood cemetery.. Published by The Barre Daily Times, 20 November 1947
  Burial	22 Nov 1947	Elmwood Cemetery, Barre, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. Elmwood Cemetery, Barre, Vermont   [8, 16]
  	Gravestone of William and Esther (Matthews) Gokey
  Person ID, Branch	I11303
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2026

  
  

  Spouse / Partner	Esther Agnes Matthews,   b. 15 Aug 1874, Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. d. 1 Aug 1964, Barre, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. (Age 89 years)  Other Partners: Horace William Whelpley  m. 4 Oct 1894
  Marriage	15 Jun 1897	Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A.   [14, 15, 16]
  Age at Marriage	He : 22 years and 2 months - She : 22 years and 10 months.
  Family ID	F1427	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	15 Feb 2026

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1Ordie William Orton Gokey(1875 – 1947) 2 3

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 26 Apr 1875 - Worcester, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. Census - 1880 - Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. Marriage - 15 Jun 1897 - Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. Census - 1900 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Census - 1910 - Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. Draft Reg - 12 Sep 1918 - Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. Census - 1920 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Census - 1930 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Census - 1940 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Residence - 1941 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Death - 19 Nov 1947 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Burial - 22 Nov 1947 - Elmwood Cemetery, Barre, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A.  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S189] Bureau of the Census, 1880 U.S. Federal Census, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010), Year: 1880; Census Place: Northfield, Washington, Vermont; Roll: 1348; Family History Film: 1255348; Page: 183A; Enumeration District: 212. [S137] Bureau of the Census, 1900 U.S. Federal Census , (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004), Year: 1900; Census Place: Boston Ward 11, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 1313; FHL microfilm: 1240680. [S186] Bureau of the Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census , (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 20), Year: 1910; Census Place: Northfield, Washington, Vermont; Roll: T624_1617; Page: 18A; Enumeration District: 0232; FHL microfilm: 1375630. [S26] Bureau of the Census, 1920 U.S. Federal Census, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010), Year: 1920; Census Place: Boston Ward 8, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_742; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 221; Image: 115. [S20] Bureau of the Census, 1930 U.S. Federal Census, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002), Year: 1930; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: 943; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 0085; Image: 1228.0; FHL microfilm: 2340678. [S21] Bureau of the Census, 1940 U.S. Federal Census, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), Year: 1940; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T627_1661; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 15-139. [S110] Ancestry.com, Ancestry Family Trees, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S14] Ancestry.com, Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current® http://findagrave.com, (Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), Memorial ID 126893001 William Orton Gokey. [S17] Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013). [S2178] Obituary of Esther A. Gokey, (Burlington, Vermont: the Burlington Free Press, 3 August 1964, Page 13). [S23] Ancestry.com, U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1941. [S101] Social Security Administration, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015). [S33] United States, Selective Service System, U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005), Draft Registration Card of William Orton Gokey. [S123] New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013), Groom Card of William Orton Gokey. [S123] New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013), Bride Card of Esther Agnes Whelpley. [S2361] Obituary of William O. Gokey, (Barre, Vermont: The Barre Daily Times, 20 November 1947, page 1).