By 1870, still but a teenager, he seems to have set off to make his own way in the world.  We have not ascertained his whereabouts in 1870 or 1880.

On January 30, 1881, Albert married Susan Eveline Foley.  Witnesses to the marriage were Edward Shryack and "Ostia" Nelson, Albert's half-sister.  Marriage Documents  In November of the following year, Susan's younger brother, Samuel, would marry Ostie Nelson.

Susan Eveline Foley was born February 16, 1856, in Floyd County, Indiana, one of at least nine children in the family of William Foley, originally from Kentucky, and Jane Perkins of Virginia.

By 1900 Albert and Susie were the parents of three children, the eldest born in Illinois, the younger two, apparently twin girls, had been born in late 1888 in Kansas.  The family was back in Illinois, living in Blandinsville Township, McDonough County.  Albert was working as a farm laborer.

Sometime prior to the census of 1910, the family took up residence in the village of Blandinsville, and from then on Albert was the proprietor of a shoe repair shop.  Susie supplemented the family income by working from their home as a dressmaker.

Albert and Susie died in Blandinsville within a few months of each other in 1932.  He died on May 31, she died on November 17.  They were entombed in a mausoleum at Glade City Cemetery at Blandinsville.

Their children were:

John Nelson, 47, male, farmer, value of real estate 1440, value of personal estate 3700,
born KY
Francis, 26, female, born VA
Dawsy, 19, male, born IL
Mary, 17, female, born IL
Matilda, 15, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Winfield, 12, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Lucy, 10, female, born KY, attended school within the year
Albert [Goad], 7, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary [Goad], 5, female, born IL
Robet [Nelson] [sic], 2, male, born IL
Eremith Fowler [sic], 17, female, born KY

William Folly, 49, male, farmer, value of real estate 2690 ?, value of personal estate 1300,
born KY
Jane, 44, female, born VA
Thomas, 22, male, born IN, attended school within the year
Mary L ?, 18, female, born IN, attended school within the year
Martha J, 16, female, born IN, attended school within the year
Margaret T, 14, female, born IN, attended school within the year
Eliza A ?, 12, female, born IN, attended school within the year
Lucenda C, 10, female, born IN, attended school within the year
Susan, 8, female, born IN, attended school within the year
Samuel, 2, male, born IL

Foley, Jane, 55, female, white, keep house, value of real estate 4500, value of personal estate 600, born VA
Margaret, 24, female, white, keep house, born IN
Eliza A, 22, female, white, born IN, attended school within the year
Susan E, 16, female, white, born IN, attended school within the year
Samuel O, 12, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Kippling, Thomas, 25, male, white, born England, both parents foreign born

Foley, Jane, white, female, 64, widow, keeping house, born VA, both parents born VA
Susan E, white, female, 23, daughter, single, at home, born IN, father born KY, mother born VA
Samuel O, white, male, 22, son, single, works on farm, born IL, father born KY, mother born VA
Foley, Owen, white, male, 23, "barder", single, farmer, born IL, both parents born IN

Goad, Albert, head, white, male, Jan 1854, 46, married for 19 years, born KY, both parents born KY, day laborer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, paying on a mortgage on his home

Susie, wife, white, female, Feb 1856, 44, married for 19 years; mother of 3 children, all living; born IN, both parents born IN, could read, write and speak English

Howard, son, white, male, Nov 1872 [sic], 17, single, born IL, father born KY, mother born IN, at school for 7 months, could read, write and speak English

Ruth, daughter, white, female, Dec 1888, 11, single, born KS, father born KY, mother born IN, at school for 8 months, could read, write and speak English

Ruby, daughter, white, female, Dec 1888, 11, single, born KS, father born KY, mother born IN, at school for 8 months, could read, write and speak English

Goad, Albert, head, male, white, 56, married (1st) for 29 years, born KY, both parents born VA, spoke English, shoemaker, own shop, working on own account, could read and write, owned his home free of mortgage

Susie, wife, female, white, 54, married (1st) for 29 years; mother of 3 children, all living; born IL, father born KY, mother born OH, spoke English, dress maker, at home, working on own account, could read and write

Goad, Albert R, head, owned his home free of mortgage, male, white, 66, married, could read and write, born KY, both parents born VA, spoke English, repair shop, shoe shop, working on own account

Susie E, wife, female, white, 63, married, could read and write, born IN, father born IN, mother born VA, spoke English

Goad, Albert R, head, owner, home value 2000, did not own a radio, male, white, 76,married, age at first marriage - 24, could read and write, born KY, both parents born KY, spoke English, shoe repairer, shoe shop, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Susie E, wife, female, white, 70, married, age at first marriage - 18, could read and write, born IN, both parents born IN, spoke English, sewing, dress maker