He received a private education suitable to his class, including at the Pisgah Meeting House, then attended the Winchester Law School in Frederick County, Virginia.

The last followed his father's path into law and politics, including a term in the Virginia Senate and also served as clerk of the Bedford County court until his death.

Liberty was incorporated in 1839, with James F. Johnson, William M. Burwell, John Goode Jr., and Goggin as its leading orators and politicians (and would be renamed "Bedford" after the Civil War).

[6] Bedford County voters elected Goggin as one of their representatives (part-time) in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1835, and he served one term from 1836 to 1837, but declined to seek re-election.

[9] Goggin's son and namesake enlisted in the 11th Virginia Infantry as a lieutenant on May 15, 1861, as the Civil War began, but fell ill by July and died in September 1861.