Conrad Goodner

Conrad Goodner, according to his own statement, was born November 29^th, 1756, in Germany, and was apparently the third son of John Goodner Johannes Guttener, immigrant. The birth date is given in his application for pension due him for his services as a soldier in the North Carolina line in the Revolutionary War, and his place of birth was given in a statement made to his grandson, George Washington Goodner. George was taken by his father at the age of six to see his grandfather, and while sitting in front of Conrad, on a low stool, Conrad is reported to have said to him, "When I was a boy of your age I was living in a castle on the Rhine". As young George remembered him later, he was not "Dutchfied" in appearance. Another grandson stated that he was one of the kindest persons he had ever known.

These dates, that of his birth and that of his residence in the castle on the Rhine, have been used to determine the approximate time of the arrival of the family in America, which has already been discussed in the article on "The Immigrant Family", (qv), and which was between the years 1763 and 1774/5.

Conrad grew to manhood on the farm of his father in Orange County, North Carolina. While a person of considerable native intelligence, he was unlettered, there being during his boyhood no neighborhood schools that he could attend, private schools in the distant cities being beyond their financial reach. Their primary objective in those days was to wrest a livelihood from the soil, and the children were required to do their share as they grew able to do so.

The fact that Conrad was unlettered may be significant in that it might help to establish the coming of the family to America while he was still quite young, perhaps around seven and eight years of age, as the probabilities are that if he had remained in Germany much beyond that age he would have had some schooling, at least enough as to permit him to sign his name. That is particularly true if the family had been of a better status than peasantry. Conrad stated that when he was twelve years old his mother told him his age. Unfortunately he did not state where they were residing at the time.

In November of 1778, at the age of 22 years nearest birthday, Conrad was drafted, or enlisted, in the Continental line, he States the "Army of the United States,” at Hillsboro, North Carolina, serving nine months, being discharged in August 1779. Immediately after entering the service he enrolled with his Regiment, commanded by Colonel Saxton and Lieutenant Colonel Lightel, to Charleston, South Carolina. While there he served as waggoner at the encampment of General Lincoln when the Battle of Stone Brier was fought. The date of this battle was March 3^rd, 1779. The American General Ashe was Stationed by order of General Lincoln behind Brier "Creek, where it falls into the Savannah, about forty miles below Augusta, Georgia. During the last three months of his service, Conrad was confined for a time to a hospital in the Black Swamp due to an illness, and one may wonder if it was not that illness which germinated the seed of the affliction which in after years became his burden to bear, and which caused him so many years of disablement and pain, and which rendered him bedfast the last seven years of his life.

Conrad's war time service is fairly completely Stated in his pension papers, application for which was filed in St. Clair County , Illinois, June 3^rd, 1833. A facsimile of this application, as well as one of his children which was filed subsequent to his death, is herewith reproduced. The originals of these papers are in the possession of the National Archives, General Services Administration, Washington, DC. Attention is called particularly to the facsimiles of the Bible leaves accompanying the application of Jacob in behalf of the children on which is written the names and birth dates of Conrad Goodner (Conrath Guttener) and Elizabeth, and those of the two oldest children in German. Jacob, in his statement, certifies that he is not certain in whose hand-writing these are, but Conrad stated that at the time of his marriage his father-in-law wrote down his age on a piece of paper which he then had. The handwriting then might be that of Jacob Daniel Scherrer, which if true is the only known existence of his penmanship. As long as Conrad and Elizabeth remained in Guilford County , the birth records of the children were written in German, which shows that some one with a German education was taking care of the record, and whom more natural than the grandfather. After their removal from North Carolina, the entries were in English.

Conrad married in Guilford County, North Carolina, in 1782, at age 26, Elizabeth Scherrer, age 17, a daughter of John Daniel Scherrer and Hannah Sophia Dick, both natives of Germany. Elizabeth was born in Guilford County, June 25^th, 1765. See in the Appendix the extensive article on the Scherrer family, which carries facsimiles of two rare, old, and valuable documents, - the letter of recommendation that Jacob Daniel brought with him to this country in 1752, and a letter written to him in this country by his brother, George Theobold Scherrer, in Germany, in the year 1764.

No record of Conrad's marriage is on file in the Court House in Guilford County. It seems that very few marriages were recorded in those early days. It is a matter of speculation and interest as to the scene of the marriage ceremony, but since the Scherrers were active members of the nearby Friedens Church, and Jacob Daniel no doubt a pillar in the institution, it is logical to suppose that the marriage took place in the old log structure that served as the church at that time. The Goodners no doubt attended this church also, which served both the Lutheran and German Reformed churches.

Conrad and Elizabeth remained in Guilford County until shortly after the birth of their second child, Maria Salome (Sally), on May 21^st, 1786. John, their first child, was born December 17^th, 1783. Conrad was following the profession of farming, but it is not known where he made his home these first years in Guilford County. The soil of Guilford County is not now, nor was it then, very productive. Today it requires much fertilization to produce good crops.

Shortly before 1790, for a period of several years, there appears to have been a depression in the area, resulting in hard and difficult times, and this coupled with the difficulties of securing good crops from the poor soil, together with the lure of fertile and cheap lands to the west, prompted the exodus of a great number of people. They emigrated, generally in large groups and families, westward to Tennessee, which was then a part of North Carolina.

Some remained permanently in that State; others removed still further westward and northward, as these sections became open to settlement, some going to Illinois, some to Indiana, some to Missouri, and some southward into Alabama and Mississippi.

Conrad and Elizabeth were one of the families that moved to Tennessee, accompanied it appears by some of the Scherrers, the Jordans, Goddards, Jacksons, etc. They settled in Sullivan County, Tennessee. It was quite an undertaking for these families to undertake this trip westward into practically virgin territory. Travel was by oxen & wagon, in which they carried their household goods of all descriptions. They drove their livestock along with the caravan over the then almost impassable roads through mountains and rivers on to places unknown and unseen by them, and about which they had known through hearsay only. They were pioneers, ever seeking that "land of promise,” where they might rest and build their homes and farms anew.

They made their home in Sullivan County far about 16 years, living about the year 1788 and leaving about the year 1804. They settled on a tract of land of 150 acres or thereabouts, and on which he received a State grant in the year 1794, some six years after he first settled on it. The grant reads as follows:

To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting; Know ye that we for and in consideration of the sum of fifty shillings for every hundred acres hereby granted paid into our Treasury by Conrad Goodner have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto this s^d Conrad Goodner a tract of land containing one hundred and fifty acres lying and being in our County of Sullivan, including the plantation whereon the s^d Goodner now lives, Beginning at two white Oaks on William Goddard's corner North 65 West 140 poles to a black oak and gum thence North 30 East 45 poles to a line thence North 60 west 48 poles to a tin on or near William Elliott's line thence North fifty East 110 poles to a maple thence East 95 poles to a gum, then south 100 poles to a white Walnut tree thence East fifty poles to a stake then a straight line to the beginning as by the plat hereunto annexed doth appear together with all woods waters mines Minerals hereditments and appurtenances to the s^d lands belonging or appertaining to hold to this s^d Conrad Goodner his heirs and assigns forever yielding and paying to us such Sums of money yearly or otherwise as our General Assembly from time to time may direct provided always that the s^d Conrad Goodner shall cause this grant to be registered in the Register's office of our s^d County of Sullivan within the time limited by law, otherwise the same shall be void and of no effect in testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent and our great seal to be hereunto affixed, witness Richard Dobbs Spaight, Esqr, our governor Captain general and Commander in Chief at Newbern the 29^th day of July in the 18 year of our Independence and in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.

This tract of land was located on Reedys Creek, and you will note that it bordered on the land of a William Goddard, who in the year 1822 sold his plantation of 97¾ acres to a John Jackson. A granddaughter of Jacob Daniel Scherrer, Elizabeth Jordan, married about 1802 a Joseph Goddard, residing in later years in Knox and Blount counties, Tennessee.

Other Jacksons living in Sullivan County were Peter, who on October 25^th, 1786, bought from Samuel Job an 87 acre tract of land on Kindrick Creek, and who later on June 27^th, 1793, received a grant from the State of North Carolina of 75 acres on the same creek. A William Jackson, on August 15^th, 1800, bought from Jacob Job, 75 acres on Kindrick Creek, but this was evidently a different William than married Catherine Goodner, since he sold this land in 1825, indicating residence there, and Catherine and her husband had been residents of Illinois for several years prior to 1825. Records also reveal a Robert Jackson in Sullivan in 1793, and a Thomas Jackson in 1810. These Jacksons were undoubtedly from the Jackson family of Guilford County, North Carolina.

Conrad lived on his plantation for about 16 years, improving it and rearing his rapidly growing family. Here his children David, Jacob, James, Jane Anne Benjamin, Hannah Grinande, Godfrey, Francis and just possibly Elijah were born.

On November 2^nd, 1803, he sold his plantation to Benjamin Lee for the sum of $500.00. The sale was recorded May 27^th, 1804 (Book 4, Page 591, Deed Book, Sullivan County, Tennessee). This deed was signed in the presence of John and Rachel Anderson; Matthew Rhea, was Clerk of the County. It is extremely unfortunate but all the old records of Sullivan County with the exception of the deeds were destroyed by fire when the Court House was burned in 1863, in the war between the States. In 1803, or 1804, he moved with his family to Smith County, Tennessee, although there seems to some tradition in the family that he resided briefly in Greene County. No record of land purchase, however, exists in that county. Smith County continued to be his home until 1811 or 1812, when he removed to Johnson County , Illinois Territory * residing at a place known as Pine Hill, near the old Fort Massac post office. Here also moved three brothers of Elizabeth, David, John and Godfrey Sherer (Sheerer). Conrad and Elizabeth remained in Johnson only a few years and then moved on to Randolph County. Neither of these places suited Conrad because he began to suffer quite considerably from arthritis, and these counties being relatively low created conditions which aggravated his ailment. Consequently, he again moved, and this time to St. Clair County,-.here the land was higher and the climate more suited to him. The year of his arrival in St. Clair County is given as 1815 by George Washington Goodner, a grandson. This section was called "The Land "of Goshen", and the "land of Promise." In Illinois Settlements in St. Clair County, Illinois, it states that Conrad Goodner took out a grant, or purchased, March 9th, 1818, the East ½ of the NW ¼ of Section 3, consisting of 86.4 acres. He had been apparently living on this tract of land since he moved to St. Clair County.

All of Conrad's children did not accompany him to Illinois. John was, by the year 1811, married and with a growing family; he elected to remain in Smith County, Tennessee. David remained also in Tennessee, finally in 1814 or 1815 moving to Huntsville, Mississippi Territory, which a short time later became a part of the State of Alabama. Jacob also remained in Tennessee, and did not move to Illinois until several years later. It appears that James accompanied his parents to Illinois - he was not married - but not liking the climate returned to Tennessee and lived with his brother, John. The rest of the children all accompanied their parents.

Conrad continued to live in St. Clair County until about 1830. He was progressively becoming worse from his arthritic condition and was having difficulty in getting around, and consequently in taking care of his father. He began to be bent over and to have difficulty walking, and the pains he suffered were very severe. George Washington Goodner wrote years later "that grandfather improved a farm in St. Clair County, Illinois, and after he had an orchard in bearing found that his title was bad. The case was decided against him in the Supreme Court. He then moved to Nashville, Illinois, with his youngest son, Elijah, where he died very poor, not knowing that he had property in Germany worth $2, 000, 000.00.” This latter refers to an "estate" in Germany supposedly left to certain Goodner heirs, of which no record was ever found.

On February 25^th, 1830, in St. Clair County, Conrad and Elizabeth conveyed to their daughters, Elizabeth and Jane Ann, parts of Section 3, Township 1S, Range 9, and on September 30^th of the same year, they apparently conveyed another part of the same tract to Jane Ann. On that same date, Elizabeth Goodner conveyed to Jane Ann that part that had previously been deeded to her. On May 8^th, 1837, Jane Ann conveyed one of these tracts to a Nic. Schuberth, perhaps all in her name, as no subsequent transfers from her could be found, that is all in her name at that time. Previously, on September 30^th, 1831, she conveyed to her brother, Elijah, a part of Section 3, Township 1S, Range 9, as recorded in Book F, Page 468.

From 1830 until his death, Conrad and his wife, Elizabeth, lived with son, Elijah, whose farm was some two or three miles directly south of the town of Nashville, Washington County, Illinois. Conrad passed away on August 27^th, 1837, in the home of Elijah, mercifully released from the unbearable torture which had wracked his body for the past seven years. For these past seven years he was bedridden, and his spine was so drawn up in curvature that his knees and chin almost touched; hands and fingers were drawn and shriveled in the typical arthritis condition characteristic of the disease, rendering him completely helpless. At times, his screams of agony could be heard some distance from the house, as then no drugs were available to soften the pain. At the time of his death, he was lacking but a few months of being 81 years of age. It is reported that because of his spine curvature, he was buried in an upright condition, in a small cemetery, known as the locust Cemetery, located at one place on the farm touching on the road leading past it. Elizabeth, his faithful wife and mother of twelve children, followed him in lasting peace, April 12^th, 1839, and was interred beside him. Her age at death was 74 years.

No stones mark the resting place of this honored couple, and the exact location in the cemetery has become lost. When I visited this cemetery in the summer of 1958 I found it overgrown with saplings and brush, entirely uncared for except for one spot about ten feet square. It is a tragedy that this should be, and it is also lamentable that their exact resting place was not suitably marked. No plot of the graves sites exist, and it is now impossible to locate their graves.

Administration papers were filed on the estate of Conrad in Washington County, Illinois, October 7^th, 1841, John W. Holcomb, being appointed Administrator. He and Alexander D. Hay furnished bond in the sum of $60.00. Z. H. Vernor was judge of the Probate Court.

This is to Certify that the following is an accurate copy from records in the official custody of the North Carolina Historical Commission.

For Sundries furnished the Militia of North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina as allowed by David Wilson, Auditor. November, 1781, as P Report N^O 31.

This is to Certify that the following is an accurate copy from records in the official custody of the North Carolina Historical Commission.

Names	Amount	Cash	Certificates
Conrad Goodner	40.10.4.	10.2.7.	30.7.9.

For those of the descendants of Conrad Goodner who may wish to use his Revolutionary War service for entry into any patriotic society, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Sons of the American Revolution, or Sons of the Revolution, the following authorities may be used to prove his service:

3. "Army Accounts - State Records of North Carolina, Halifax and Warrenton". Vol. XVll. 1781-1785. Settled by Commissioners in 1785 at Warrenton, showing Conrad Goodner entered claim for services. Claim received by A. Lytle.

4. "Roster of North Carolina Soldiers in the American Revolution,” published by the North Carolina Society of the DAR, 1932, Page 526.




Assortment of extremely old Goodner Family Documents. Of particular interest are the final two, which contain the original spelling of the family name.