James Goodner

James Goodner, the fifth child of Conrad and Elizabeth (Scherrer) Goodner, was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, February 6^th, 1792.  His childhood was spent on the farm there.  At about the age of 12 or 13 his father sold his farm in Sullivan County and moved to Smith County, Tennessee.  It has been said by some of James' descendants that he received only six months schooling, but if such was the case then it is evident that he became self–taught, for his letters which have survived to this day reflect a much greater schooling than could possibly have been obtained in a six months period.  In a letter dated April 3^rd, 1814, to his brother, Benjamin, he wrote, "I saw a number of my acquaintances and school mates when I was on Coosey from Holeston.”

When his parents, and some of his brothers and all of his sisters, moved to the Illinois Territory in 1811 or 1812, he evidently accompanied them, but did not long remain there, returning to Tennessee and living with his brother, John.  As explained in one of his later letters he did not like the climate there.  He had left his mare and colt with his parents in 1813, as is referred to in David's letter to them in November of 1813.

In October of 1813, at the age of 21 years, he substituted for his brother, John, who was drafted to go against the Creek Indians but could not very well go because of his young family, and so hired James to go in his stead, paying him $15.00 per month, in addition to which James received his Army pay.  An excerpt from David's letter of November 2^nd, 1813, to his parents reads as follows:

"At the special request of Bro. James, I now proceed to lay before you a few thoughts which perhaps may rouse your sympathetic passions.  Bro. John was drafted to go against the Creek Indians; but he finding that he could not go consistent with his own temporal interest hired a substitute.  His first proposal (which was fifteen dollars a month exclusive of the wages given by the United States) was made to Bro. James, to which he acceded and has now been in the service near the term of one month.  He passed through this county a few days before I returned from conference with the Army as it marched out against the Indians.  On my return I got information of his going, and persew'd the Army, and fortunately met with James before he crossed Tennessee River.  I lodged with him on the bank of Tennessee the 16^th night of October.  His spirits was well up.  On Sunday morning the 17^th, I saw him with many others cross Tennessee.  I have not heard from him since.  He expected to return in three months but that is a doubtful case.  As there is no probability of him visiting you under a year, he desires you to take care of his mare and colt and not let them suffer, also to separate them when you separate your own, for which service he is willing to make compensation.  Also he desires you to not let his property be sold to raise them few dollars that he is due the Estate of Godfrey Shearer Deceased.”

James returned from his army service, none the worse for it apparently, except that while in camp he did suffer severely from a very bad cold, and was still suffering from the memory of poor food while in service and the lack of any at all.

In 1911, Mrs. Katherine Chadick had written the Veterans Administration regarding the service of James in the War of 1812, and the following is a copy of the letter she received from them:

Veterans Administration

Bureau of Pensions

Washington, DC.

January 27^th, 1931.

James Goodner

S. C. 5938.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.

To

Mrs. Katherine Chadick

Mercedes, Texas.

Dear Madam,

You are advised that it appears from the War of 1812 records of this bureau that James Goodner enlisted and served as Corporal in Captain Anthony Metcalf's Company of Tennessee Militia from October 4^th, 1813, to January 27^th, 1814.  He was allowed pension on his application executed April 1^st, 1871, while a resident of De Kalb County, Tennessee, Post Office address, Alexandria, Tennessee.  Aged seventy–nine years.

Soldier married in August or September, 1817, Martha Fite.  There are no other family data.

E. W. Morgan

Acting Commissioner.

Up until the time of his marriage, James continued to live with his brother, John, learning the trade of tanning as well as working on the farm.  On August 11^th, 1817, he married Martha Fite, born February 23^rd, 1798, the daughter of John Fite and Martha Haslit.  John Fite served as Private and Waggoner in the New Jersey Troops in the Revolutionary War under Colonel John Van Fleet.  He was a son of Thomas Fite and Aspacia Randolph of New Jersey.  He was born in Greenwich, New Jersey, and died in the village of Liberty, De Kalb County, Tennessee.

James wrote several letters to his parents and brother, Benjamin, in Illinois, and some of these have been saved all of these years.  Because of their value, interest, and information they contained, copies of them are being given below, and a facsimile of the one dated February 10^th, 1817.  We should be greatly indebted to all who helped preserve these old letters, since they give us an insight into the lives of those who have long since passed on.  It is strange however that there are no letters preserved that were written later than these.  What letters we have antedate 1820.

James followed the profession of farming most of his life, it appears. In later years he lived with a daughter near Nashville, where he died at the ripe old age of 91 years, living longer than any of the other children of Conrad and Elizabeth.  He was interred in the cemetery in Alexandria, Tennessee, in De Kalb County, just over the Smith County line.  He and Martha had eight children, including two sons.  One of these, John Fite, left no issue.  The sons of Thomas Conrad, two in number, were me only ones to carry on the Goodner name.  The data on these children and their descendants will follow immediately after the printing of the letters mentioned above.

Letter from James & John Goodner to their brother, Benjamin, 1814.

Carthage, April the 3^rd, A.D. 1814.

Dear Brother,

I received your letter April the 1^st and read it with sorrow.  Although some parts of it was very entertaining.  My mind has not been half so much interrupted since I left camps as it was after reading your letter.  I received a letter from Jacob shortly after B. Brownin left there which informed me of his intentions about moving and I was wonderfully pleased at the notion of it, and was in great hopes that you all would move there shortly, but now I have lost all hopes of ever living neighbor to you again, as I doubt ever living in your territory any mole as I can't enjoy my health over there.  I have been more healthy and fatter and stouter since I left Camps than I have been in four years before.  I had a spell of sickness in Camps which reduced me very low.  It arose from cold–the greatest cold in my system that ever I had in my life.  Our fare was very bad. It is not necessary to write any more on this point as I expect you have heard all about it.

I wonder who was your informer about your woodless country, or what whimsical notion has got in you all, or who is me ring leader that leads you out there.  I suppose you have not had enough ague and fever yet. And father it appears wants to get to a colder country where he can enjoy the full merits of rheumatics. I thought he would be for moving to a warmer climate.  It appears that the family is divided, and so like to be.  I suppose by this time you know how I like the thoughts of your moving out there.  To preserve friendship I had best drop the subject lest by my plain speaking I should give an offense, but I hope you'll take no offense at what I have already said.  I am truly sorry at the thoughts of your moving out there.  I should have been with you before now, but the throng of business and the scarcity of money prevented, but I expect to come in the course of four or five weeks, perhaps sooner.  I saw a number of my acquaintances and school mates when I was on Coosey from Holeston.  As I do expect to be with you shortly, I think a short letter may suffice.  I like my trade very well. I had appointed to start to see you on last Tuesday and I met with an opportunity and sold my mare, and now I must defer it awhile, and when I come I can't stay but a few days. I intend to bring my mare away and sell my colt.

These lines leave me in good health. I am with respect, yours,

James Goodner

To Benjamin Goodner (in same letter)

John wants me to write a few lines for him.

Dear relations:

These lines will inform you that we are all well at present, hoping these will find you in good health.  I shall get a fine quantity of hides this year betwixt four and five hundred, and this tanner in town will get but very few.  I would further state to you that I took one hundred and seventy gallons of honey, which I sold at one dollar per gallon.  I have it in contemplation to build a cotton gin this fall.  Cotton is very scarce. It is selling at 25 cents per pound, and corn at ten shillings per barrel. I have two hundred and sixty–two apple trees planted.  Mrs. Baker desires to be remembered to you all.  Farewell,

John Goodner.

To Benjamin Goodner

Illinois Territory, Johnson County.

Fort Massack Post Office.                        (Note This came to hand May the 26^th, 1814)

Copy of Letter From James Goodner To His Father, Conrad Goodner, May 15^th, 1814.

Original from which this is copied is in possession of Mrs. Frank H. Goit)

Carthage, Tennessee

May 15, AD, 1814.

Mr. Conrad Goodner

Illinois Territory

Johnson County

Fort Massac Post Office

Most Honored Father.

I have received your letter of the 3^rd of April and am a little sorry to hear of the painful affliction you have suffered during the last fall and winter, as you observe, worse than death itself.  I thought that my suffering was extremely great while in the savage wilderness, exposed to the inclemency of the weather without anything to support me except it was a few acorns I could chance to meet with at times.  Sometimes a few pieces of corn grains that I could pick up where the horses had been fed.  But I must confess that my sufferings were very light to what yours were.  But I hope these lines will find you restored to your former health in a great measure.  I think if you will leave that country and come into this state to a warmer climate you would recover your former health, also your family would enjoy their health a great deal better.  As for my part I feel almost a third stronger and abler for labor than I did when I lived in your Territory.  I had much rather you would move into this State than go to that settlement.  But if you must move there, I must bid you farewell, as I think I never can like your Territory well enough to live in it.

In my last letter to you, I wrote that I expected to be with you before now.  But the throng of business has prevented it and I am not able to inform you at this time when I can come.  But I will use every exertion that lies in my power so as to get off sometime this month.  As I have appointed so many times to go to see you and have failed in every one, I think proper not to appoint another time until I am ready to start I would be quite happy to see you all.

I received a letter from Bro. David last Monday, which informed me that they were all well.  He also stated that through much difficulties, he arrived at Bro. Jacob's on the first of March.  Also that he had generally been in business to his elbows since his arrival at that place, which often whets his stomach and causes him to sleep very sound and sometimes complains of sore bones.  He further stated that he had lately received a letter from Cousin Jacob Shearer of N. Carolina, from which he understood that our relatives were as well as could be expected when considering that some of them are very far advanced in the evening of life, particularly Aunt Albert.

If you receive this letter shortly after this date and have opportunity to put a letter in the office, Write to me a long letter to let me know if Bro. Browning and Bro. Benjamin are gone to Gotion and when you expect to move, and where all our relatives are living as I understood that David Tade was about to move on Big Bay, also who tills your plantation this year.

Bro. John and his family are well and join me in much love to you all. I must come to a close, with my best love and respect to you and my loving mother, Brothers and Sisters and in short all that inquire after my welfare, I am dear Father, with respect, your obedient son,

James Goodner

Conrad Goodner.

A few lines to Grandmother Shearer.

Most loving Grandmother.

After my best compliments to you, I desire to inform you that according to your request I expect to put your letter in the office tomorrow morning.  But I have poor hopes of its ever finding the person it is directed to.  When I was in the army, I saw Mr. Jesse Goddard, a son of Thos. Goddard, who informed me where Mr. Jordan was then living.  He also informed me that his children were all living in the same county, except Sophia, and that they appeared to be doing very well.  John Jordan was not married.  Mr. Jordan had purchased land, and Joseph Goddard likewise, and as well as I can recollect, some of his other sons–in–law.  However, I understood that they were all settled.  His youngest daughter was not married.  I have forgotten which county they live in, Blount County or Knox County.  But to the best of my recollection, it is Blount, and there I shall direct your letter.  These lines leave me in good health.  I am with respect your most obedient and dutiful son.

Copy of Letter from James Goodner to his "Relations" in Illinois Territory.

Carthage, May the 19^th, 1816.

Dear Relations:

I have a long time waited with patience for a letter from you till my patience is worn out.  I am almost ready to conclude you are dead or have entirely forgotten me, which causes me to write a few lines to send you at random.  I am yet living at Johns, and expect to continue here till winter. I have no place in view then. to go to.  If no preventing accident takes place I shall tan leather for myself to the amount of 170 to 200 dollars this year. My wages is 15 dollars a month.  I set out the 10^th of January last to hunt Brother David and found him living on Flint River.  They were all well except himself. He complained a little of the rheumatic pains in all his arms and hand. He has entered a quarter section of thin land but has an excellent spring. He is in a very thick settlement and a good place for his business if he can please his customers (which I believe he has done so far) he will get a great run of custom, but I fear his inability of body and want of experience will injure his progress a little in the tanning business.  I then set out and after three days travel found Jacob in the poor "Greenbrier nobs" in Hickman County on Duck river where he had lately moved to.  He had contracted for a small piece of land in the woods and was about to settle himself there in that poor Greenbrier country. He took with him from Giles 200 dollars of leather and wagon load of hides.  My feelings were very much hurt to find him in such a poor out of the way place. It appeared (as I told him) that I had not passed a house that evening I came there that was able to purchase a pair of half soles.  Shortly after I left there he was sent for and moved to Columbia, 24 miles up the river in Murray County where he Joined in partnership with Esq. Spencer to superintend his factory for the term of three years. I understand that he expects to fill 16 vats this year.  These lines leave me and this family in good health.

James Goodner "

In a letter John had written to his parents in Illinois Territory, dated May 6^th, 1815, James had added the following :

"Suffer me to gratify you by amusing your ears with a few lines lest you should take the hypo.

From Bigboys streams your surely gone

For which you've thought the time so long

And at the skyline contented camped

And sent (your) hands your crops to plant

Was you but on the Oakwa stream

And twenty miles along the green

Like Israel when on Pisgah stood

And viewed old Canaan’s land so good

on Turkey Hill you then might Stand

And look toward the promised land

Where lies your prize or little portion

Hard by the settlement of Goshen

There you can sing your songs so sweet

Your journey is at last complete

From ponds and swamps are freed at last

And in a land all clad with grass.

My paper won't no more admit

I hope you'll give me leave to quit.

5c    James Goodner (1792–1883).  Married Martha Fite (1798–1862).

1d    Martha Harriet Goodner (1818–1854).  Married 1^st Matthew Thomas Cartwright.  Married 2^nd Henry Banks Vaughan, Jr. (1819– [date unknown]).

1e    Elizabeth O. Cartwright (1837–1878).

2e    Pattie Cartwright ([date unknown] – [date unknown]).

3e    John Cartwright ([date unknown] – [date unknown]).

4e    James Vaughan (1848–1877).

2d    Elizabeth Caroline Goodner (1820–1912).  Married James W. Grissim.

1e    Cornelia Grissim (1836–1916).

2e    John Marcellus Grissim (1838–Civil War).

3e    Eugenia Grissim (1840–1897).

4e    Thomas C. Grissim (1841–Civil War).

5e    Martha Grissim (1842–1861).

6e    Robert Grissim (1844–1897).

7e    James Goodner Grissim (1848–1924).

8e    Olivia J. Grissim ( 1850–[date unknown]).

9e    William W. Grissim ( 1852–[date unknown]).

10e    Sammie F. Grissim (1857–[date unknown]).

11e    Carrie Grissim (1859–1872).

12e    Gertrude Grissim (1862–1921).

3d    John Fite Goodner (1822–1871).  Married Nancy C. Floyd (1830–1850).

1e    Child, died at birth.

4d    Louisa Donnel Goodner (1825–1912).  Married 1^st Robert Dowell (about 1820–1924).  Married 2^nd N. D. Allison.

2e    Martha Dowell (1842/3).

2e    Jennie Dowell ([date unknown] – [date unknown]).

3e    Robert F. Dowell (1850–1924).

4e    James Allison ([date unknown] – [date unknown]).

5e    Lulu Allison ([date unknown] – [date unknown]).

5d    Nancy Jane Goodner (1827–1894).  Married James Nesbet Cartwright (1818–1895).  No issue.

6d    Amanda Ray Goodner (1830–1895).  Married James M. Baird (1825–1880).

1e    Etta Baird (1851–1878).

2e    Ophelia Baird (1853–1912).

3e    Emma Carolina Baird (1859–1946).

7d    James Brown Goodner (1833–1850).  No issue.

8d    Thomas Conrad Goodner (1837–1916).  Married Jennie Box (1850–1912).

1e    Mary Goodner (1875–1951).

2e    Blanche Goodner {1876–1883).

3e    Thomas Conrad Goodner, Jr. (1878–1932).

4e    James Box Goodner (1888–1946).

6c    James Goodner, born 2–6–1792, Sullivan County, Tennessee; died 2–3–1883, near Nashville, Tennessee.  Interred in Alexandria, De Kalb  County, Tennessee, age 91 years.  Fourth son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Scherrer) Goodner.  Married Martha Fite, 8–11–1817; died 1862; daughter of John Fite and Martha Haslit Fite.  John Fite was a Private and Waggoner in the New Jersey Troops in the Revolutionary War, under Colonel John Van Fleet.  He was a son of Thomas and Aspacia Randolph Fite, and was born in Greenwich, New Jersey, and died in Liberty, De Kalb County, Tennessee.

1d    Martha Harriett Goodner, born 5–17–1818; died 1854.  Married Matthew Thomas Cartwright, 1–24–1883.  Probably lived in Smith or De Kalb Counties, Tennessee.

1e    Elizabeth Ophelia Cartwright, born 1837; died 1878.  Married William Porter Turner, in 1857 (born 1826; died 1904).  Resided in Nashville, Tennessee.

1f    James Turner, born about 1860.  Nothing further known.

2f    Willie Turner, born about 1863–1867.  Nothing further known.

3f    Ophelia Turner, born 1876, in Nashville, Tennessee; died 11–4–1914, in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they resided at 1709 South Boulevard.  Married C. B. Bryant, a graduate of Vanderbilt University and who became Secretary Treasurer of the Cotton Manufacturers Association.  No issue.

2e    Pattie Cartwright, born about 1839.  Married D. A. Buck.  Resided in 1925 at 1107 Maple Avenue, La Porte, Indiana.  Contact lost in the years following.

1f    Manon Buck.

2f    Inez Buck.

3f    Edith Buck.  Married Mr. Van Trease.  No record of issue.

3e    John Cartwright, born about 1841.  No further record.  Martha Harriett Cartwright.  Married 2^nd Henry Banks Vaughan, Jr, 12–15–1847 (born 12–22–1819, son of Henry Banks Vaughan, Sr, born 3–17–1797.  The Vaughan family, according to Miss Charity Vaughan, came from Wales and settled in Virginia.  The original emigrant was given a tract of land in Halifax County, Virginia, for services in the Revolutionary War.  The Vaughans are traditionally descended from Lord Vaughan.  A branch of the family settled in Dixon Springs, Tennessee, and there is a Vaughan Cemetery there on the old Vaughan place, owned in 1957 by Mr. William Young.

4e    James Vaughan, born 1848, died 1877.  Married Jennie Harris of Gallatin, Tennessee (born 12–29–1846; died May 1924).

1f    Rose Vaughan, born 7–21–1871 in Gallatin, Tennessee; died 10–6–1948.  Married Fennell P. Turner, October, 1897, a doctor.  No issue.

2f    Mary Vaughan, born 5–3–1874, in Gallatin, Tennessee.  Married Dr. Henry Beach Carrel, 3–22–1906, in Nashville, Tennessee (born 6–9–1871, died 1–30–1928).  Mary Vaughan Carrel resides at Sterling Court, Apt. C–4, Nashville, Tennessee.  No issue.

2d    Elizabeth Caroline Goodner, born 3–20–1820, died 1912.  Married James W. Grissim, about 1835.  Resides in Rome, Georgia.

1e    Cornelia Grissim, born 8–4–1836; died 12–6–1916.  Married William Temple Coles.  Resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

1f    John Howard Coles, born 6–6–1860; died [date unknown].  Married Martha Ophelia Hamlet (born 2–20–1861; died 9–17–1916).  Resided in Wilson County, Tennessee.

1g    Edwin Fisher Coles, born 4–8–1880; died 10–16–1947. Interred in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Louise Buttorff, 7–5–1905 (born 9–6–1888; daughter of Henry B. and Elizabeth Buttorff).  Mrs. Louise Coles resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

2g    Robert Grissim Coles, born 8–8–1882; died 10–3–1953, in Nashville, Tennessee.  Interred in Mt. Olivet Cemetery; died of a heart ailment.  Attended Howard School and Hume–Fogg High School.  Started business career with the Jesse French Piano Company as salesman, later entered the automobile business.  Episcopalian.  Married Kate Anderson of Helena, Arkansas, 6–3–1903 (born 4–8–1883 daughter of Zachary Taylor Anderson, a collateral descendant of Zachary Taylor, and also Dolly Madison.  Widow).  Residence 1958: 2951 Primrose Circle, Nashville, Tennessee.

1h    Zachary Anderson Coles, born 10–21–1904, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Louise (Shelton) Bell, 6–3–1933.  Residence: 1958–449 Dreer Park Drive, Belle Meade, Nashville, Tennessee.

1i     Zachary Anderson Coles, Jr, born 4–12–1938.  A student at Sewanee College in premedical.  Graduate of Law in Vanderbilt University

2i     Betsy Bell Coles, born 10–5–1943.

2h    Martha Coles, born 3–25–1907.  Graduate of Ward–Belmont School.  Married 1^st William Frederic Faircloth.

1i     Kathryn Anderson Faircloth, born 7–12–1937.  Student at Vanderbilt University .  Married 2^nd James D. Barbee.  Residence: 2951 Primrose Circle, Nashville, Tennessee.

2i     Mary Louise Barbee, born 10–23–1942.

3i     Robert Coles Barbee, born 8–10–1946.

3h    Mary Alberta Coles, born 2–8–1896, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married B. O. Robertson, MD, 8–24–1918, Nashville, Tennessee.  Physician and Surgeon.  Member 6^th Avenue. Presbyterian Church.  Residence: 828 Conroy Road, Birmingham, Alabama.

1i     Dr. Brison Robertson, born 10–6–1919, at Birmingham.  Physician.  MS, 1942 at Vanderbilt University, Sigma Alpha Epsilon.  US Air Force 1955–57.  Presbyterian. Member Jefferson County Medical Society.  Office, Medical Arts Building, Birmingham, Alabama.  Married Elaine Haile, 11–24–1942, Birmingham, Alabama, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Haile.

1j      Nan Robertson, born 12–21–1951.

2j      Brison Oakley Robertson, born 12–10–1952.

4h    John Howard Coles, born 7–13–189–, Nashville, Tennessee. Partner in firm of Coles and Waller, Jewelers, 519 Union Street, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Elizabeth. Shelton (born 11–24–1900, daughter of W. B. D. Shelton).

1i     John Howard Coles, 3^rd, born 9–9–1927 at Nashville, Tennessee.  Graduate of Vanderbilt University in Medicine, MD, 1957.  Captain in US Air Force (MC) 4232^nd USAF Hospital, Lake Charles, Louisiana.  Married Barbara Dickson, 4–23–1954; daughter of Howard Dickson.

1j    Lynne Coles, born 4–20–1955.

2j    John Howard Coles, 4^th, born 11–26–1956.

2i    Betty Coles, born 8–18–1932, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married William W. Johnson, September, 1953.

1j    Linda Elizabeth Johnson, born September, 1954.

2j    Martha Diane Johnson, born 2–20–1957.

2f    Ed Coles.  No issue.

3f    Albert Coles. Married and moved to California.  Contact lost.

1g    Glenn Coles.  Resided in Venice, California.

2g    Son.  Name unknown.  Deceased.

4f    Dr. Van Coles, born 1–21–1872; died 8–12–1933.  Interred in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee.  Graduate in Medicine of Vanderbilt University.  Married Euda Gray Carter, 1898 (born 7–12–1880; died 2–7–1950.  Daughter of John and Ann Carter.  Interred in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee).

1g    William Temple Coles, born 11–15–1901.  Married Valada Bacon, daughter of James and Susan (Brown) Bacon, and born 5–7–1905.  Residence: Edifecio Gomez Mena Abispo 302, Havana, Cuba.

2g    Elizabeth Coles, born 3–23–1905.  Married Clay Alexander, 8–21–1923 (born 10–24–1899, son of William S. and Mattie Alexander); DDS.  Residence: 3614 Brighton Road, Nashville, Tennessee.

1h    Betty Anne Alexander, born 6–1–1925,.  Married Edward Chalfant Reaney 11–16–1947.  Photographer.  Member Woodmont Christian Church.  World War II, Army, Tank Division.  Residence: 4107 Vaibewood Drive, Nashville, Tennessee

1i    Eldred Chalfant Reaney, born 4–16–1949.

2i    Elizabeth Ann Reaney, born 12–26–1952.

3i    William Shelton Reaney, born 2–10–1956.

2h    Clay Shelton Alexander, Jr, born 4–4–1929.  With Ofieser Pharmaceutical Company.  Korean War, in Marine Corp.  Member Christian Church.  Married Pauline Gill, 1–3–1950 (born 12–19–1925; daughter of George Gill).  Residence: 5102 Belmont, Houston, Texas.

1i    Vicki Leu Alexander, born 10–27–1952.

2e    John Marcellus Grissim, born 3–19–1838.  Killed in the Civil War.  No issue.

3e    Eugenia Grissim, born 6–22–1840; died November, 1897.  Married 1^st Thomas Snyder.  Removed from Tennessee to California, exact location there unknown.

1f    Carrie Snyder.  Married Mr. Mourser.

1g    Eugenia Mourser.

2f    James Snyder.

Eugenia Grissim Snyder married 2^nd Albert Tryon.  Issue unknown.

4e    Thomas C. Grissim, born July 1841.  Killed in the Civil War.  No issue.

5e    Martha Grissim, born 4–11–1842; died 6–27–1861, at age of 19.

6e    Robert Donnell Grissim, born 3–9–1844; died 6–26–1897, age 53.  Confederate War Veteran, serving in Company C, 8^th Smith’s Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry.  Farmer.  Resided in Bellwood, Tennessee.  Married Mary Elizabeth Hamlet, 2–3–1864 (born 8–18–1845).

1f    John M. Grissim, born 2–15–1865, near Bellwood, Tennessee, Wilson County.  Farmer.  Member Church of Christ; died 12–17–1939. Resided near Lebanon, Tennessee, and lies interred in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in that place.  Married Jane Elizabeth Miller, 11–1–1898 (born 4–22–1875, daughter of Joe M. and Josephine lash Miller of Lebanon, Tennessee).  Mrs. Grissim–residing on Route Two, Lebanon, Tennessee.

1g    James Garland Grissim, born 2–10–1903; died 7–1–1926.  Interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Lebanon, Tennessee.

2g    Kathryn Elizabeth Grissim, born 11–25–1904, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married William Carroll Anderson, 11–9–1927 (born 8–23–1902, son James Baird and Annie Adonis Anderson; died 10–25–1958. Interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Lebanon, Tennessee).  Contractor.  Member of Vine St. Christian Church.  Mrs. Anderson resides at 887 Robertson Academy Road, Nashville, Tennessee.

1h    William Carroll Anderson, born 3–30–1932, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Peggy Taylor, 12–27–1957, Nashville, Tennessee.  Residence: 887 Robertson Academy Road, Nashville, Tennessee.

1i    Kathryn Grissim Anderson, born 9–25–1958.

2h    Richard Grissim Anderson, born 8–8–1936, Nashville, Tennessee.  Single.  Residence: 887 Robertson Academy Road, Nashville, Tennessee.

2f     Lulu Grissim, born 1866.  Married Van Divort.  Have record of one child, Mrs. Clifford D. Watson, whose address is Castleton Hotel, New Castle, Pennsylvania.

3f     William Hamlet Grissim, born 5–23–1867; died 6–22–1935.  Interred in Goshen Cemetery, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Farmer.  Married Lou Etta Carter, 4–10–1873; daughter of W. H. Carter of Wilson County, Tennessee.  She died 10–18–1952, interment in Goshen Cemetery, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Resided in Lebanon, Tennessee.

1g    Hamlet Eugene Grissim, born 2–16–1891, Lebanon, Tennessee. Retired farmer.  Presbyterian.  Residence: 229 University Avenue, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Mary Alice Young, 11–10–1915 (born 7–9–1896, daughter of R. H. Young, Lebanon, Tennessee).

1h    Carter Young Grissim, born 2–12–1917, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Car Salesman.  Member Church of Christ.  Residence:  4822 Lindell Drive, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Mary Magdalene House, 1–1–1939, Wilson County, Tennessee (born 7–12–1912, daughter of Jere and Minnie House of Lebanon, Tennessee).

1i    Don Wayne Grissim, born 6–18–1940.

2h    Doretta Grissim, born 7–17–1918.  Married Raymond Word.  Residence: 807 Westwood, Lebanon, Tennessee.

3h    Louise Grissim, born 9–3–1920, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Jack Watson Jones, 11–5–1942, Lebanon, Tennessee (born Nashville, Tennessee, son of E. F. Jones of Chicago, Illinois).  Protestant.  Major in US Army, 17 years service.  Residence: 204 Eastland, Lebanon, Tennessee.

1i    Charles Glenn Jones, born 4–28–1944.

2i    Sandra Jeanne Jones, born 11–15–1946.

3i    Richard ErIe Jones, born 2–26–1948.

4i    Alice Deborah Jones, born 11–8–1953.

5i    Constance Louise Jones, born 4–22–1955.

4h    Hamlet Eugene Grissim, born 3–3–1922, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Residence:  Route Five, Lebanon, Tennessee.

5h    Billie Bryon Grissim, born 1–26–1924, Lebanon, Tennessee. Ward Attendant.  Member Church of Christ.  Served in Navy 3 years  Residence: 180 White Bridge Road, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Helen Dora Towns, 6–1–1947, Murfreesboro, Tennessee (born 2–1–1923, daughter of Allie Calvin Towns, Smyrna, Tennessee).

1i    Teresa Ann Grissim, born 4–5–1948.

2i    Melissa Joy Grissim, born 11–21–1950.

3i    Terry Bryon Grissim, born 3–22–1954.

6h    Helen Grissim, born 6–24–1927, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married James Grady Hayes, 11–20–1948, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee (born 11–8–1920, son James Earl Hayes of Smyrna, Tennessee).  Residence: 2304 Salem, Nashville, Tennessee.  Served in Navy 2½ years.  Coordinator.  Member Church of Christ.  No issue.

7h    Joe Howse Grissim, born 2–6–1930, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Carpenter.  Member Church of Christ.  Married Carolyn Clayton Leben, 9–24–1954, Lebanon, Tennessee (born 5–17–1936, daughter of Clarence & Beatrice Leben of Lebanon, Tennessee).  Residence:  410 Sunset Drive, Lebanon, Tennessee.

1i    Carol Diane Grissim, born 8–26–1955.

2i    Rebecca Joanne Grissim, born 11–1–1956.

8h    Pearl Grissim, born 6–21–1932, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Mr. Cross.  Residence: 229 University, Lebanon, Tennessee.

9h    Alice Grissim, born 6–15–1934, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Mr. James.  Residence: Memphis, Tennessee.

10h   Kenneth L Grissim, born 11–1–1936, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Residence: Lebanon, Tennessee.

2g    William Harte Grissim.  Residence: 901 2^nd Avenue N, Nashville, Tennessee.

3g    Archie Norris Grissim.  Residence: 1322 4^th Avenue N, Nashville, Tennessee.

4g    Mary Grissim, born 1–22–1898, Big Spring Road, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Thomas Edward Halbert, 10–23–1938, at First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee.  Son of W. H. and Susie B. Halbert of Lebanon, Tennessee.  Physician.  Was Colonel in Tennessee National Guard for 10 years, and served as Lieutenant in Spanish American War.  Member of First Presbyterian Church.  Residence: Route Two, Lebanon, Tennessee.

1h    Daughter.  Married Wilton Bland.  Residence: Juliet, Tennessee.

2h    Daughter.  Married J. D. Manning.  Residence: Blair Lane, Lebanon, Tennessee.

3h    W. H. Halbert.  Residence: Blair Lane, Lebanon, Tennessee.

4h    Daughter.  Married  A. J. Namnowan.  Residence: 44 Sunrise Circle, Wallingford, Connecticut.

5h    Daughter.  Married Dan Reasonover.  Residence: Route Four, Lebanon, Tennessee.

6h    Thomas E. Halbert, born [date unknown].  Residence: Route Two, Lebanon, Tennessee.

7h    Daughter.  Married Billy Ingram.  Residence: 1104 Stockwell Street, Nashville, Tennessee.

8h    Hamlet Grissim Halbert, [date unknown].  Residence: Route Two, Lebanon, Tennessee.

9h    Robert B. Halbert.  Residence:  Route Two, Lebanon, Tennessee.

10h   John C. Halbert, born [date unknown].  Residence: Route Two, Lebanon, Tennessee.

5g    H. Kai Grissim, born 1–17–1912, Wilson County, Tennessee.  Farmer and Merchant.  Member of Presbyterian Church.  Residence: Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Amy Jo Byars, 530–1931 (born 10–4–1910; daughter of Mrs. Nellie Mae Byars of McMinnville, Tennessee).

1h    Etta NeIl Grissim, born 3–3–1936.

2h    H. Kai Grissim, Jr, born 8–25–1941.

4f     Eugenia Grissim, born 2–16–1876; died 1–25–1946.  Married Harry McClain Freeman (born July, 1868; died 2–24–1943).  Merchant and banker.  Resided in Lebanon, Tennessee.

1g    Eugenia Freeman, born 3–3–1910, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married William Ho Maddox, 5–28–1938, Lebanon, Tennessee (born 12–3–1913, son F. W. Maddox of Pittsburgh, Texas).  Commissioner of Finance and Revenue for City of Lebanon, Tennessee.  Methodist.  Residence: 413 W Spring Street, Lebanon, Tennessee.

1h    Barbara Ann Maddox, born 4–29–1940.

2h    Robert Willis Maddox, born 9–2–1943.

5f     James Hubert Grissim, born 7–23–1869; died 7–19–1955. Interred in Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Dealer in livestock and farmer. Resided in Wilson County, Tennessee.  Married Louise W. Hawse, 9–24–1901 (born 6–23–1878, daughter of L. H. Howse).  Married in Bellwood, Tennessee.  Widow resides at 116 South Tarver Avenue, Lebanon, Tennessee.

1g    Bertha Grissim, born 6–8–1905, Bellwood, Tennessee.  Married 1^st Cecil Travis Bonner, 4–7–1926, Nashville, Tennessee (born 4–29–1905, son Fred Bonner of Duncan, Oklahoma, died 6–8–1944).

1h    Gene Travis Banner, born 4–23–1936.  Married Jane Ella [name unknown].  Residence: 604 East Lindsay, Norman, Oklahoma.  Student at Oklahoma University, studying law.  No issue.

2h    Barbara L. Banner, born 6–26–1938.  Student at Oklahoma. University, Norman, Oklahoma.

Bertha Grissim Banner married 2^nd Shaw D. Ray.  Residence: 1528 Pearl St, Duncan, Oklahoma.

2g    Hilary H. Grissim, born 9–13–1912, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Farmer and livestock Dealer.  Member First Presbyterian Church.  Attended Castle Heights Military Academy for 4 years.  Residence: 503 E High Street, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Bettie Allyne Baird, 6–21–1937, at College St. Church, Lebanon, Tennessee (born 11–1–1913; daughter of Houston Baird of Lebanon, Tennessee).  No issue.

6f     Kate Cornelia Grissim, born 5–29–1878, died 11–7–1944.  Married Albert Lucian Moss, 9–31901, at Bellwood, Tennessee (born 11–22–1872; died 12–3–1950.  Son of Carlos Clay Moss, born 1–24–1845; died 4–16–1877, and Frances Isabel Mosley, born 7–25–1846; died 11–16–1887).

1g    Elizabeth Moss, born 9–11–1907, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married J. Carr Arnett, 11–7 1929, in First Presbyterian Church, Lebanon, Tennessee (born 11––6–1901; died 25–1946; son James Carr Arnett, Jr, and Annie Isabelle Arnett, née Keeton, of Clay County, Mississippi).  J. Carr Arnett was Manager of the Chicago Office of The Dictaphone Company at time of death.  Member Presbyterian Church.  Mrs. Moss resides at 3206 Hillsboro Road, Nashville, Tennessee.

1h    James Carr Arnett, 4^th, born 7–29–1936, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Residence: Bristol, Tennessee.  Married Mary Ann Johnson, 6–13–1959, of 3900 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri.

2g    Alberta Moss, born 8–10–1913, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Albert Clair Haley, 11–18–1932, Lebanon, Tennessee (born 7–23–1908, son Selbert Clair and Birdie Haley, née Pryer).  Retired US Infantry Colonel with 26½ years of service.  Baptist.  Residence: Lake Shore Estates, Route One, Palm Harbor, Florida.

1h    Albert Clair Haley, Jr, born 7–8–1935; died 7–9–1935.

2h    Alberta Claire Haley, born 6–3–1937; died 10–22–1939. (Twin).

3h    Albert Bradley Haley, born 6–5–1937, twin of Alberta Claire.

3g    Isabel Moss, born 5–13–1919, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Ramon Z. Safley, 12–26–1942, at Rossville, Georgia (born 1916; died 1953 of heart disease.  Son of Richard Z. Safley of McMinnville, Tennessee).

1h    Ramon Z. Safley, Jr, born 2–4–1946.

Married 2^nd Murray L. Stewart, at Clearwater, Florida, son of Edward W. Stewart, deceased, of Dickson, Tennessee.  Isabel Moss had become acquainted with Mr. Stewart while both were attending Cumberland University before her marriage to Mr. Safley.  Mr. Stewart is a General Contractor, a graduate of Civil Engineering, Oklahoma A & M.  Served in Army 3½ years. Methodist.  Had two children by a previous marriage.

7e    James Goodner Grissim, born 2–27–1848; died 4–22–1924.  Farmer. Methodist.  Born and lived in Rome, Smith County, Tennessee.  Married Mattie Calhoun (born 7–27–1865; daughter of Persis and Carrie Calhoun, née Steed).

1f     Carrie Grissim, born 2–23–1888; died 3–11–1939.  Interment in Family Plot, Rome, Smith County, Tennessee.  Married Louis Walker, 3–27–1909, Wilson County, Tennessee (born 10–9–1884, son of Wryland and Novella Walker, née Robertson).  Attorney.  Residence: Lebanon, Tennessee.

1g    Mattie Walker, born 3–31–1910.  Married Comer Donnell.  Residence: Lebanon, Tennessee.

1h    Comer Lewis Donnell, born 10–15–1940.

2h    Martha Donnell, born 5–12–1945.

2g    Grissim Hill Walker, born 6–12–1918.  Married [name unknown].  Residence: Lebanon, Tennessee.

1h    Lewis Walker, born 4–30–1951.

2h    Carolyn Walker, born 2–26–1953.

3g    Carrie Robertson Walker, born 2–21–1920.  Married N. B. Dozier, Jr.  Residence: Piedmont Avenue, Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

1h    Lewis Dozier, born 10–30–1948.

2h    Elizabeth Carolyn Dozier, born 6–5–1951.

3h    Robert Evans Dozier, born 6–15–1953.

2f     James Goodner Grissim, Jr, born 10–8–1894, Smith County, Tennessee.  Retired Farmer and Contractor.  Presbyterian.  Residence: 2301 Hillsboro Road, Nashville, Tennessee.  Also has a "inter home at 226 22^nd Avenue, Street, Petersburg, Florida.  Married Cynthia Gardenshire, born 6–5–1896, daughter of John Hawsell and Eliza Gardenshire, née Snodgrass).

1g    James Gardenshire Grissim, born 2–21–1918.  Residence: 967–67 Terrace South, St. Petersburg, Florida.

1h    Cynthia Grissim, born 12–8–1948.

2h    James Goodner Grissim, 3^rd, born 4–21–1952.

3h    Mary Stephens Grissim, born 4–21–1956.

2g    Martha Jerolyn Grissim, born 9–25–1922.  Married Dr. J. W. Ellis.  Residence: 5144 Stanford Drive, Nashville, Tennessee.

1h    James Wood Ellis, born 8–5–1948.

2h    Jerry Ellis, born May 1952.

3h    Catherine Clark Ellis, born 4–12–1954.

3g    Mary Eliza Grissim, born 6–1–1925.  Married Dan J. Pipkin.  Residence: 852 Snell Isle Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Florida.

1h    Dan Pipkin, died age 6.

4g    John M. Grissim, born 7–17–1927.  Married Jean Foster.

1h    John Mitchell Grissim, born 7–9–1954.

2h    Jean Marie Grissim, born 2–1–1958.

3f     Nina Grissim, born 3–9–1890, Rome, Tennessee, Smith County.  Married Thomas Puryear, 11–15–1916, at Rome, Tennessee.  Farmer.  Baptist.  Son of Dr. Joseph R. and Connie Puryear, née Barton.  Residence: Route Two, Lebanon, Tennessee.

1g    Thomas R. Puryear, MD, born 10–5–1918.  Married Katherine Louise Graves, 10–10–1950.  Residence: East Main Street, Lebanon, Tennessee.  No issue.

2g    Eleanor Goodner Puryear, born 1–25–1921; died 10–26–1936.

8e    Olivia I. Grissim, born about 1850.  Married Henry B. McCall, 1–28–1868 (died about 1899).  Resided in or near Union City, Obion County, Tennessee.

1f     Murray McCall.

2f     James McCall.  Resided at one time in Birmingham, Alabama.

3f     Carrie McCall.  Married Jack Hooper.

4f     Birdie McCall.  Married a Mr. Campbell.

5f     Sallie McCall.  Married a Mr. Campbell.  (No other information could be secured on this McCall family. Contact with them had been lost for some years.)

9e    William W. Grissim, born 5–1–1852.  Removed from Tennessee to California and lived near his sister, Eugenia.  No issue.

10e   Sammie F. Grissim, born 2–20–1857.  Removed from Tennessee. to California, and resided near his sister, Eugenia, and his brother, William.  No issue.

11e  Carrie Grissim, born 10–29–1859; died 11–18–1872.  Interment in Nashville, Tennessee.

12e  Gertrude Grissim, born 9–1–1862; died 11–18–1921.  Interment in Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Charles Blackman, a Grain Dealer. Resided in Nashville, Tennessee.

1f     Bessie Blackman, born 11–2–1881.  Married Claude Mann, 11–1–1899, at Nashville, Tennessee (born 1–23–1877; died 9–4–1938.  Son of Thomas and Annie H. Mann).  Newspaper Publisher.  Postmaster under Pres. Wilson's Administration.  Methodist.  Residence: 345 Pine Bluff Avenue, Malvern, Arkansas.

1g    Annie Gertrude Mann, born 2–22–1905.  Married Glenna Lewis Teeter.  Residence: Route Five, Malvern, Arkansas.

1h    Lewis Mann Teeter, born 5–22–1932.  Attended Southern State College; a Graduate of University of Missouri School of Journalism.  Employed by General Electric Company in Public Relations, Schenectady, New York.  Married Marcia Ann MacDonald, 5–17–1958, in Christ Church, Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; daughter of Stuart Ames MacDonald of New Baltimore, Michigan.  Marcia is a Graduate of Ecole Intemationale, Geneva, Switzerland, and of Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri.  Residence: 5 Union, Schenectady, New York.  No issue.

2h    John Allen Teeter, born 4–1–1934.

3h    Rebecca Jane Teeter, born 1–12–1942.

2g    Elizabeth Mann, born 6–7–1906.  Married Cliff William Bridgers.  Residence: Hope, Arkansas.  Methodist.

1h    Elizabeth Bridgers, born 11–2–1934. Graduate of Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.  Member of Cardinal Key and Phi Mu Sorority.  Married Bob G. Jones, son of Ernest Jones of Dimmitt, Texas. Attended Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.  Residence: Dimmitt, Texas. No issue.

2h    Cliff William Bridgers, Jr, born 3–31–1938.

3g    Claudia Mann, born 5–12–1914.  Married John Wesley Mason, at Malvern, Arkansas.  Residence: 20 Cherry Lane, Malvern, Arkansas.  No issue.

2f     Charles S. Blackman, born 7–26–1886, Nashville, Tennessee.  Retired.  Member of Church of Christ.  Residence: 1403 Stratton Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Ruth Morrow; 3–16–1908 (born 11–18–1889; daughter of N. F. Morrow).

1g    Charles S. Blackman, Jr, born 1–6–1911. Salesman. In Armed Forces two years.  Married Anna Cotten, 5–20–1937, at Nashville, Tennessee (daughter of Harvey T. and Bernice Cotten, born 8–24–1906).  Residence: Warner Park Apts, Nashville, Tennessee. No issue.

3f     Lillian Gertrude Blackman, born 11–12–1893, Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Willard Taylor, 12–24–1915 (born 9–19–1892, son of Jefferson and Laura Taylor).  Clerk at LCRR.  Methodist.  Residence: 7910 Ingleside Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

1g    Willard R. Taylor, Jr, born 11–25–1918.  Married June Hannah (born 7–22–1921).  Residence: 10242 Forest Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

1h    Kent Phillip Taylor, born 5–29–1945.

2h    Randall Taylor, born 3–1–1947.

3h    Karen Sue Taylor, born 1–19–1949.

4h    Scott Taylor, born 6–29–1951.

2g    George Blackman Taylor, born 3–19–1920.  Married Betty Lambert (born 8–241920).  Residence: 14214 Parnell Avenue, Riverdale, Illinois.

1h    Dennie W. Taylor, born 10–9–1942.

2h    Russell G. Taylor, born 6–10–1949.

3d    John Fite Goodner, born 7–6–1822; died about 1871.  interred at Alexandria, Tennessee.  Married Nancy C. Floyd, 3–6–1849 (born 9–4–1830; died 10–17–1850).  Mrs. Nancy Goodner died at childbirth; baby died also.  Mr. Goodner never remarried.  No issue.  John Fite Goodner served in both the Mexican War and in the Civil War.  In the Mexican War he served first as a 2^nd Lieutenant.  He was promoted to Captain at Memphis, Tennessee, July 7^th, 1846, being Captain of Company I, 1^st Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry.  At the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the Confederate forces, May 20^th, 1861, at Nashville, Tennessee, being joined up by Colonel J. Pickett.  He served in the 7^th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers as Captain, Company A, and also in Company 5.  Later he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and somewhat later, on May 23^rd, 1862, he received his commission as a full Colonel to replace Colonel Hatton who had been made a Brigadier General.  Colonel Goodner resigned April 8^th, 1863.  The cause of his resignation is not given, but it was probably due to ill health, since the records show that he received absent leave several times due to illness.  He received a furlough of six days from February 22^nd, 1863, by order of General Lee,–this while stationed at Camp Greeg near Fredericksburg, Virginia. (Confederate Archives, Chapter 1, File No. 92, Page 134.  National Archives, General Services Administration, Washington, DC).  The 7^th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers was composed mostly of men from the counties of De KaIb and Smith.  The illness which apparently caused Colonel Goodner's resignation from the Confederate service remained with him after the War.  He died about 1871, and was interred at Alexandria, Tennessee.  In August of that year, a letter written by a relative to a friend Stated, "Not long since Colonel Goodner died–poor man, doubtless he is a happier spirit, he suffered for years as you know.”  As a matter of interest, herewith follow copies of several letters he wrote while in service to Miss Lizzie Floyd, a sister to his deceased wife.  The originals of these letters are in the possession of Mrs. Florrie Metcalf of Sparta, Tennessee.  Miss Lizzie Floyd, the recipient of these letters, later became the wife of C. W. L. Hale, father of Will T. Hale, who wrote the History of De Kalb County.

Copy Of Letter From Colonel John F. Goodner, Lieutenant Colonel, CSA, to Miss Lizzie Floyd.

Camp Trousdale,

June 18^th, 1861.

Miss Lizzie,

I have an opportunity to send a letter this morning to Lebanon to be mailed, which will facilitate its progress very much. I have not time to write much, but thinking you would like to hear from your friends here I have concluded to drop you a line however brief it may be. We are generally well, some measles in camp not more than 100 cases this morning and one death yesterday from Capt. Murray's Company.  Your brothers are both well and my health is good.  Our Regt. is improving in the drill very fast and is (I think) the finest ever saw.  I have so much to do in drilling and commanding and running to Nashville to get up the accoutrements for the Regt. that I scarcely have time to write.  I would have written you several times before now but for want of time.  I understand that you are getting us a Stand of Colors to be presented to our Company, and I want you and several of the young ladies to come over here and present it to us.  You can leave Nashville or Gallatin in the morning, come up here in the cars stay till evening and then go back to either place by dark.  We have a great many lady visitors here every day from all the towns around in the adjoining counties.  If you come, come as soon as you can for we will probably leave here in a few days to go to Missouri or any other place where we may be needed.  We are holding ourselves in readiness to march at any moment when called on, and I don’t care how soon.  I am anxious to confront the enemy on the battle fronts.  I am satisfied that our Regt. will cover itself with honor and chivalry renown whenever it has a chance.  Another reason for moving is that our boys are importuning us continually to go home to see the friends and we cannot let them go.  So if we get 2 or 3 hundred miles away from home they will abandon the idea of going home.  Our officers have all been home but myself and because I am a single man they say I must remain in command of the Regt.  Well I don't want to come home as long as my services are needed here.  But if we should remain here 3 or 4 weeks longer by that time we will have the discipline of the Regt. so complete that I can leave for a few days without injuring the service, and come home for a day or two, but I have no idea that we will remain here more than a week longer.  Lon. Lincoln is well and in fine spirits.

Write me and give me the news and say whether you will come over the 1^st next week.  Direct your letter to Camp Trousdale, Richland Station.

Yours etc,

John F. Goodner

Copy Of Letter From Colonel John F. Goodner, Lieutenant Colonel, CSA, to Miss Lizzie Floyd.

Camp Trousdale,

June 28^th, 1861

Miss Lizzie,

I received yours a few days ago and was glad to hear from you and to know that you are still in good spirits and hope for your friends who have enlisted in the glorious cause of Southern independence.  I am sorry that Capt. Wright misunderstood the rights of his company and thwarted the patriotic intentions of the young ladies of Alexandria, in preparing and presenting a Banner to the gallant band who have abandoned the ease and comfort of home for their countries cause.  It would have given me great pleasure to have received and defended that banner through the bloody scenes it might have passed, and returned it at the close of the war to the same hands that presented it, as a testimonial of our valor and loyalty to the south.  Our company is certainly entitled to a banner, which can be carried on all company drill occasions, and when the Company is acting independent of the Regiment which is frequently the case.

I can not tell how long we will remain here. We are under orders to be ready to march at a moment's warning.  So we may be hurried away from here with but an hour to prepare.  The probabilities are now that we will remain here until after the 4^th of July when Lincoln's Congress will meet, and determine whether they will prosecute the war longer or acknowledge our independence and treat with us.  You see from the public prints that there is various opinions entertained on this subject.  Some think Lincoln will sue for peace in less that three months, while others think he will avail himself of the incoming Congress to raise additional troops and supplies to enable him to carry on the war more vigorously.  Be that as it may, I care not, for I am satisfied that if all the southern troops are such as our Regiment defeat will be his lot in every engagement.  If you have any taste for military display, it would please you to see our Regiment in the field.  It is the brag Regt. from what I can learn in the state.

Our troops are generally healthy except measles and mumps which prevail in great abundance.  Your brothers are both in fine health and enjoying themselves.  Well I have had Will excused from drill only when he chooses to go.  Bob needs no excuse, he is a stout and hardy as a mule.  I am already now for the conflict.  Got the finest horse in camp finely equipped. 

Had me a saddle made in Nashville for which I paid 65 dollars, with a pair of Navy repeaters on the holsters, a good sword, and luckily found me a very smart Negro goy a few days ago.  He is a good cook and waits on me finely.  My lady friends at Gallatin send me all kinds of vegetables and sweetmeats on the cars every day, and then above all when they visit us and go to the parade field they compliment me by saying that I am the finest looking officer in the field.  That tickles my vanity very much you know, for you always accuse me of being vain.  We are living first rate but the amount of drill we are doing in the continual fog of dust and excessive heat is bearing hard on a good many of the weaker constitutions, but it don't hurt me.  I believe I am the best man for all work ever invented.  Well, that is my ambition it to be equal to or commensurate with any task that may devolve on me.  I suppose you hear a great many slanderous reports about us put in circulation by the cowardly wretches who prefer living an ignominious and disgraceful life.  I know there are those who are by nature so degraded, low and groveling that they despise any and everyone who breathes a laudable ambition.  You have such among you I suppose as there is no community free of them, but their vicious slang is like the hoot of the night owl, it is without echo.

Tell Mother I am well and expect to come home again some of these days, but cannot tell when.  You must write me often as I like to hear from you.  The men write nothing but business letters and my only chance to get the news really is from my lady correspondents.

John F. Goodner

Copy Of Letter From Colonel John F. Goodner, Lieutenant Colonel, CSA, to Miss Lizzie Floyd.

Camp at Big Springs, Pocahontas County, Virginia.

August 10^th, 1861.

Miss Lizzie,

Thinking that you would like to hear something from the army of the South in this region, this "benighted region,” I may say, I avail myself of this moment to write you as it may be the last opportunity that I will have for sometime.  Since we left the railroad at Millsboro we have traveled on foot over the biggest mountains in Virginia.  Some 80 or 100 miles, passing on our march by the Bath Alum Springs and the warm sulfur, both magnificently improved and have heretofore accommodated thousands of visitors through the warm season, but they are desolate now in consequence of the near approach of Lincoln’s troops.  All this portion of Virginia is a continuous range of mountains rising apparently to the clouds with very narrow deep valleys and but few inhabitants, who live principally on beef milk and butter.  The women have all fled from the enemy and a great many of the few men in the county have either been impressed into the army or fled to avoid it.  It rains in torrents every day and we have been wet so often and have slept in the mud on the wet cold ground until we look more like hogs than men, yet our troops continue healthy except for measles and mumps of which it seems we will never get through with.  We are now encamped at the foot of one of the spires of Cheat Mountain about 8 miles from the enemy who are fortified on the mountain in the narrow pass.  We are awaiting to get a sufficiency of Flour and Salt hauled here from the rail road to allow us to advance on them.  We are eating short allowances of beef now just as we can go out on the farms and find it and slaughter it, with a very scant allowance of salt.  I have been able so far to get butter at 30 cents per pound to put on my beef when I broil it, which does pretty well you know especially as we cannot get lard to fry it in.

But this will all be right in the end, all we want now is to get at the Yankees and take revenge of them for all this danger and toil, and when ever you hear of our Regiment being in a fight you may expect to hear of much blood shed and many of your acquaintances and friends killed, for we intend to do our duty and fight like heroes let the consequences be what they may.  We will move forward in less than a week and unless the Yankees retreat you will soon hear of our being in a fight.  As for my part I don't want to survive a subjugation of my country, although the many friends who are dear to me, and with whom I would like to spend the remainder of my days in peace and quiet, no, let me fall first and be left on these tall craggy mountains to be devoured by the hungry wolf and fierce panther, with nothing left to mark my place, or prolong my history more than a new mountain legend, saying here "fell a poor fellow fighting for his native south.”  This is the kind of spirit I have tried to instill into the minds of the soldiers under my command, and I am happy to say that my efforts have been entirely successful.  I believe it is as good a Regiment as ever marshaled in any land at any time.  Our scouts brought in six prisoners today from Lincoln’s army and killed one in the skirmish.  We do not know the exact strength of our enemy in these mountains but from the best information we can get it is 15 or 20 thousand.  Our force is not so large here.  We have about 4 thousand here and Savages & Fulton's Regiments will be here in a day or two which will make this column up to 66 hundred, then Generals Floyd and Wise have about 12 thousand in the Kanawha Valley about 40 miles from here, which can unite with us if necessary.  This force will be amply sufficient for to cut our way through to Crafton on the Ohio and Baltimore rail road from thence we intend to go to the Aurelia House 10 miles from Baltimore then to Washington City and attack it on the opposite side from where Boregard will make a simultaneous attack.  If we succeed in this it will be the grandest Flank movement ever made, and will cut off Lincoln, put an end to the war and cover our army with imperishable renown.  But before this can be accomplished there must be much toil, hard fighting, and blood shed, death and suffering beyond contemplation.

You should be proud of your brothers you have no idea what soldiers they make always ready, never sick, never complain, never murmur, there is none better.

Our company are all well now except Theodore Moore and he is improving he got poisoned drinking of a sip of water on Elk Mountain which oozed out from the roots of this mountain laurel. I thought for two days he would die, but now his prospects to recover are very good.

I would like to hear from you but you won't write me.  I have never received but one letter from you since I left home and that while at Camp Trousdale.  I have written you twice since.  I don't write to you because I think you care anything for me or would care to hear from me, but because I know you have sympathies with this army and brothers in it you love, and I know they are careless about writing, and I know furthermore that the war is the all absorbing topic of conversation in Tennessee as it is everywhere else, and it is a pleasure to me to give you any information that I may have about it.  I cannot help but feel an interest in you and your happiness, although you may have none for me. I would sacrifice a thousand lives if I had them before you should be maltreated and abused as the women in this country were before our army came in to protect them.  Now Lincoln's plan to overrun Virginia and march through it into Tennessee and subjugate our noble state and winter at Memphis this next winter.  Just think of it an army of lawless vagabonds as his is marching through Ten. thieving robbing and violating all the rights of civilized society.  But I hope his troops will never reach our borders, at lease, until every true southern man has been leveled to the dust.

I would like to know the result of the elections in Ten.  I know however that your father is elected for I cannot believe that the people of De Kalb would at this the most perilous moment of our State's history, elect to her general assembly such men as were opposing him.

We are cut off from the balance of the world here, do not get any newspapers and know but little of what is going on even at Richmond.  We will have a pony express running in a few days from here to Huntersville which will bring us letters from that place.  So if you should write any letters to anyone in our Regiment direct them to Huntersville, Pocahontas County, Virginia, as that is the nearest office to us.  You should put on the letter also the number of the Regiment, for instance W. F. Floyd, 7^th Regt. Ten. Vol.

It is now late at night and I don't know but we will have to try Cheat Mountain tomorrow.  Give my respects to your Ma & Pa.

I have to send this letter by hand to some PO, probably to Nashville as there is a gentleman here who will start home tomorrow to that place, so I cannot pay postage on it so you must excuse me.  I will frank it under Will's name to relieve you of the embarrassment that it would give you to receive a letter with my name on the outside of it.

I would be pleased to hear from you at any time. If however it does not suit your will I must forego that pleasure.

Yours respectfully,

Jno. F. Goodner

Copy of Letter From Colonel John F. Goodner, Lieutenant Colonel, CSA, to Miss Lizzie Floyd.

Camp Valley Mountain

August 29^th, 1861.

Miss Lizzie,

I rec'vd yours of blank date yesterday and read it with a great deal of pleasure I assure you, and pronounce it without hesitation the best document that I ever saw from your pen.  Its style and diction is good, and had it been a little more perspicuous I would know what Mat you mean when you speak of Mat wishing that Will and myself should write in her album.

I shall suppose, however, that Miss Mat Snodgrass is the lady alluded to, and have to regret very much that you and her postponed your visit so long.  Not that I could have written anything in her album worth putting on record, but on account of having to forego the pleasure of your company in our camps.  For I venture nothing in saying that it would have gladdened many hearts to have met you just on the eve of leaving for this state.  But postponement of action is not uncommon for you.  I did not intend answering your letter so soon, but you gave me some such good cuts in it that I think it merits a speedy reply.  The paragraph about my "spirits flagging" and the "Budget of village gossip" was so good that I read it to General Anderson, Col. Whitthorne, and Hatton and others, and they all pronounced it elegant, beautiful and well said, and Jo Pickett even grew eloquent over it declaring that he intended to court the girl that wrote it if he got back to Ten. so you may look out for a new Beau.  Then when I said that I read your letter with pleasure I mean all that I say.  For it is well written and I cannot help but admire brains wherever I meet with them.  Maj. Howard reads us frequently fine sentences from his wife's letters to him, which are generally admired by the literacy of our crowd, but none of them receive a more hearty eulogy than yours.  I am proud of it.  I do acknowledge that my spirits or hope of doing good have "flagged" but my patriotism is really stronger.  I came into the army with the hope and desire of rendering aid to the great and glorious cause of Southern independences, prompted by principle religiously believing that the time had arrived when we were justifiable in resisting northern aggression with the bayonet, and even at the expense of this once unparallel republic.  I expected and sought a position where I could do something consequently to be sent up in these mountains where it rains for a solid month without ceasing, even for a day, rendering the mountain roads impassible.  Cooped up as we are can neither go forward nor backward, without anything to eat scarcely and our men falling with sickness every day.  I frankly confess that it does rather damp my courage, & I am not alone in this for we all feel that there is a strong possibility that this campaign will be a failure, for the winter is now close upon us, and we learn from what few citizens there are that winter sets in here in this climate very cold by the first of October, hence we have but four weeks now to operate in and the roads are so bad that we cannot get a sufficiency of supplies to enable us to go on the enemy.  We were reduced yesterday to two days supplies no more flour nearer than 80 miles of us except a train of wagons which was stuck in the mud on the way.  I took 15 men and went and met the wagons, worked the road, prized and pulled at the wagons until I got 38 of them into camp, which will increase of bread rations 2 or 3 days more.  We are making every effort in our power to accumulate a store of provisions sufficient to justify us in moving forward, this we have been trying to do for three weeks but it has rained all the time and the roads have got so bad that it is all we can do to keep enough on hand to keep us from starving.  Now when you look at all the facts connected with us, you see at once that every one who desires to meet the foe & drive them out of Virginia must from the force of the Circumstance, become somewhat discouraged.  We intend to hold on and keep trying to go forward until these mountains become locked up in ice and until we eat all the beef in them, for that is our principal diet.  If there is any troops in the world who can endure and be merry under all these adverse circumstances, it is our Brigade.  Our boys are anxious to advance upon the enemy and depend on taking supplies from them, but General Lee will not hazard so much, for they may have but little more than we, and then if we should meet with a repulse our troops would die of starvation.  They are strongly entrenched and fortified in Cheat Mountain Gap about 20 miles from us with a portion of their force, and the remainder of them on a few miles further at Huttonsville.  I was present at a council with Generals Lee, Loring and Anderson a few days ago and I discover their intention is to attack the left flank of the enemy by marching around the mountain and attacking their rear position first which is at Huttonsville.  This movement will be made just as soon as we can get ten days rations on hand.  Could it have been made sooner it would have been better for us, for they are receiving reinforcements which gives them a double advantage of us, both in numbers and a fortified position.  We feel sanguine of success and are anxious to try them at any odds–––for my part I intend to do my duty if I fall.  I asked you to give me the village gossip, not because I considered you had any proficiency or talent for it, more than I knew your means of ascertaining it was superior to almost anyone else, as you are or were formerly in communication with the old Chief, Old S–––––––––.  Pardon me, and we will quit even on that question.  I know you never tell anything you hear, more prudent than most of your sex, but I have heard a great many reports afloat there about us some about me of course which is as usual public property, and I merely wished to know what they had new about me for I was certain if there was anything that you and your Ma would be the first to hear it.  But you would let a report float around heinous enough to hang me & never tell me of it.

Well tell Miss Mat to reserve the two leaves for me and if I get home I will write some of my prettiest for her.  I think I will be rich enough in imagination by that time to write poetry.  I have forgotten all about what I wrote in Miss Emma’s album, I expect though it is something very nice, probably filched from some book or newspaper.

We caught two of the enemies scouts yesterday and one of their spies today.  I would not be surprised if the spy looks up a rope in a day or two.  Will and Bob are both very well, are doing finely.  Bob slipped out the Guard lines last night and went to the only settler in miles of us and stold the last bee gum the old fellow had, got stung and is very fearful of being found out.  I told him if he would give as much honey as I could eat I would not tell on him so I took dinner with him today.  Huntersville will be our post office for some time, in fact we will send a mounted soldier there three times a week to bring up our letters, and the mails are regular to that place so you will direct all your letters to us at that place until further advised.  Please write me again at your leisure.  I want to see if you can write another as good as the last one.  If you have no "Gossip" fill up with something else, anything from you will be interesting, & don't say that you have nothing to write for if you will just take up your pen and begin you will think of something.

Remember me to your relatives & give my love to Miss Mat.

Believe me your friend,

Jno. F. Goodner

Copy of Letter From Colonel John F. Goodner, Lieutenant Colonel, CSA, to Miss Lizzie Floyd.

Camp Green Brier Bridge, Virginia.

October 28^th, 1861.

Miss Lizzie,

It has been sometime since I have had the opportunity of writing any letters home.  We are gone to Sewell Mountain just four weeks, during which time I had neither pen ink or paper.  We left all baggage and went in haste, or as the military phrase is in double quick time, to meet General Rosengrans who was driving Generals Wise and Floyd before him.  We met him at Sewell Mountain and he declined to fight, and retreated back beyond the GanIey River.  Our troops were unable to pursue him, for the want of something to eat and in consequence of the roads being cut up and torn to pieces so that it was impossible to carry the essential munitions of war.  So that expedition was played out.  After resting three days and getting filled up on green chestnuts, a courier came from General Jackson commanding at Monterey and one also from General Donalson commanding at this place, with dispatches asking aid, for the enemy was making a forward move from Cheat Mountain and Huttonville in such numbers that they would be surrounded.  Consequently our three Ten. Regiments was put on a double quick march back to Green Brier a distance of 90 miles.  We made it in four days and lost but one man who died of pneumonia, and left 15 others on the way sick.  So here we are without anything to eat.  We had breakfast yesterday morning and nothing since but parched corn.  I have divided the corn with my horse and am trying to make up my share into ly hominy.  I am anticipating a fine repast of it for supper this evening.  Our wagons are gone for flour and we hope some of them will get here this evening, but the most of them will have to go to Millsboro a distance of 60 miles and it will take them 6 or 8 days to return.  There is 70 barrels of flour at Huntersville which will make about two days rations for the troops here, and that is our only chance until the wagons can get back from Millsboro.  There is no danger of starving or of even suffering much, for there is nothing like getting use to things.  If we can get one good feed of beef and bread every 24 hours we do very well and don't complain now since we have become accustomed to it.

The union men here informed the Yankees that reinforcements were coming to General Donalson and they turned and run back to their fastness's in Cheat Mountain.  Now we are here with no enemy in 20 miles of us and cold weather on us very heavy frost and ice at nights and but few blankets.  Our new clothes has not reached us yet, but they are at the railroad but we cannot get wagons to hall them out to us, as it takes all the wagons that can be procured to bring provisions to keep us from starving.  The campaign in Northwestern Virginia is certainly over for this season.  The Yankee forces are falling back to the Ohio River evidently with a view of going to Ky. or some softer climate for a winter Campaign.  We think we will either be ordered to Ky. or down on the Southern Coast in a few days.  We have sent such a request to the authorities at Richmond.  The idea of staying in these mountains all the winter is mortifying to our troops, and well it may be for many a one of them will never get away from here.  The great desire of our troops is to go to some place where we can have an active campaign and fighting during the winter.  Such cannot be expected here, as the roads climate weather and every natural element forbids it.  I prefer going to Kentucky, for I believe the true policy for us to pursue is to throw right at once enough troops into Ky. to force their way to Louisville, take it, take it, at all hazards let it cost what it may and hold it.  We can do it before Christmas, we have railroad facilities there which will enable us to carry men provisions and all the munitions necessary to lay a regular siege to the city and burn it up rather than let it remain in the possession of the Yankees.  Then from that front if we wish we can carry the war into "Africa.”  I believe we are able to burn Cincinnati and invade Ohio.  Our people are vastly superior to them in point of courage as is manifest in every engagement.  The Battle of Leesburg is a living demonstration of that fact.  And they with superior forces have run from us up here all the time unless where they are fortified in mountain passes where one man is equal to five attacking.  If we could have got them out of their secure places and could have gotten to them we would have run them out of Virginia before now.  But such are the difficulties here that it is impossible to get to them with more provisions than just what the soldier can carry on his back, and when the soldier loads himself with his gun and ammunition blankets and five days rations of bread and beef and marches 15 or 20 miles a day, he soon fails under it and becomes unfit for duty.  This we have had to do here in all to fight them.  We are awaiting orders to go somewhere.  There are several Virginia Regiments here who are amply sufficient to guard all this country during the winter, for the Yankees cannot advance across these mountains in the winter months and they will not attempt such a thing.  Then why not let us go to somewhere, where we can do something.  We have already lost from sickness as many men as we would have lost from an ordinary battle.  These arguments are conclusive and I am fully persuaded that they will have the proper wright with the authorities at Richmond, and we will get orders in a few days for Ky. or the Southern coast.  It is quite apparent from the great activity in the navy yards of the north, that the policy of Lincoln will be to attempt to land a large land force on the southern coast at some point and make a winter campaign on the interior of the south.  This being the opinion generally held by our leading men we may be held at some eligible point in reserve to go meet that force as soon as we can learn the point they intend to attack.

I received a letter from you 5 or 6 weeks ago just as we were starting to Sewell Mountain and have not had an opportunity to answer till now.  I have not received any letters now for five weeks.  I think my friends treat me bad, for just as soon as I stop writing they stop writing to me.  Now they can write whenever they choose and I cannot.  I have no candles at nights and if I had the wind would blow them out.  Frequently have no paper, ink, and you have no idea how difficult it is to get even paper and envelopes in this country the little stores that we sometimes meet with is certainly out of everything of the kind.  We passed through Lewisburg on our march here, a place as large as Lebanon and could not buy a pair of shoes socks or a hat, no paper, no envelopes or anything else except some mean whiskey and tobacco, hence you must excuse us if we are sometimes remiss in writing.  But such is not the case with you.  I was glad to get your letter and hear from you.  I would be glad to see you all and spend a few days at home with you, but I do not calculate on such a thing soon.

Will and Rob are both well and standing it finely, in fact all the boys from Tennessee are well, but Rob Bone we left him at Frankford on our march to this place.  He is considerably reduced and is suffering with a bad cough.  We left Atwell with him to nurse him he does fine in that position.  Welmouth is still there, was left there as we went to Sewell Mountain he is well all to weakness he had typhoid fever and was confined to his bed about 4 weeks.  We have about 20 of Wrights County at the Healing Springs sent thereto the Hospital sick.  They are all getting well I learn.  I would like to hear from you again, and I scarcely know where to tell you to direct your letter to, but will say to Huntersville, and if I am not on that line it will be forwarded to me.  Give my love to all my lady friends and tell them to write to me, for one letter from a lady is considered worth a half dozen from men here in point of news.  Remember me to Miss Mat Snodgrass and say to her that I hope she is happy in her

"Cot beside the rippling Stream,

Where maple grove and bluebell flowers

Shall bud and bloom in Nature's bowers

Like spirit thoughts that rise in dreams"

And I will do all that I can to return her own dear Atwell to her as soon as his term of service expires.  Tell our friends to write to us for now is the time that we need something to keep our spirits up.  The excitement of battle has died out, with the approach of winter, and these long nights, a good part of which we have to sit up by the large log fires to keep warm, causes us to meditate much in the solemn hour of midnight when all are quiet, and when all the

Weary days of anguish that have haunted me for years

When my morns are spent in laughter, and my eyes are spent in tears,

When for every deceit I acted, scalding bitter tears were shed,

In the stillness of the midnight, when I mourn the hopes t'were dead.

With the hope of seeing you all at home again and mingling with you pleasantly I am very respectfully

Jno. F. Goodner

Copy of Letter From Colonel John F. Corner, Lieutenant Colonel, CSA, to Miss Lizzie Floyd.

Headquarters 7^th, Tennessee

On the Rappahannock, Virginia.

March 9^th, 1863.

Miss Lizzie,

I received your letter today by Rob and have an opportunity to send letters here tomorrow by a young man named Griffin who lives in Wilson County.

Therefore I avail myself of the opportunity to answer your very enigmatical letter.  I scarcely know what to learn from it, or how to understand it.  However, I discover this much from it that you have become the especial eulogist and defender of General Morgan's Cavalry.  This I would scarcely expect of one so brave as you have been heretofore considered.  It may be perhaps that it is their running qualities that you admire so much, for I understand that they double quicked from an inferior force of abolition.  Thieves headed by the scum of all creation, Stokes Arabs.  If such be true, I would almost distrust the loyalty, much less the fidelity of a young lady who would thus strangle her patriotism to defend a flying lieutenant who perchance may be a transient lover.  I would say, however, that if you should lose him, you had better look in Owl Hollow up about Snow's Hill for him for I am told that is a favorite hiding place for him when the enemies and destroyers of your homes and happiness gets in pursuit.  I am told, moreover that you, Miss Josie and Miss Pattie Cartwright are having a gay time with these renegades from their Countries Cause in this its greatest time of need and distress.  I would not feed such men, in fact they are an injury to the Country, for their presence among you invites the enemy in, and when they come, your gallant admirers run away and leaves their dear little sweethearts to their own defense.

Shame! Shame! and this too by the very girls that I do so much esteem.  Oh, how I had the skeleton of the old 7^th there.

I'd give you a sample of soldiering that you might admire, instead of wasting your "fragrance on the desert air,” or what is worse, on your enemies co–partners in the destruction of your homes.

Well, give my highest regards to Old Sister.  I know she has not become contaminated with the evil spirits that infest your country.  I shall expect her to stand firm as the rocks of Gibraltar and plead in angelic tones for her country, in behalf of the worthy sons, instead of running off with the unworthy.

Now if I had the time and space on this sheet I would tell you something about Miss Edmonia Lawrence, my Virginia sweetheart.  Oh, she is delightful, black hair, dark liquid eyes, snowy white skin, pretty round teeth as white and nicely set as though they were pearl, medium size weighing 110, fine figure, pretty foot, etc.  Intelligent, plays and sings well, amiable and sweet in disposition, social and easy in society, yet modest and discreet, with a handsome estate, and can say Our Father who art in heaven.  She is the Bell of this Country and generally admired by the tasty gentlemen in this army, and strange to say, I am the favorite with her above the hundreds of admirers.  She lives about one and a half miles from our camp and consequently I go to see her 2 or 3 times a week.  She always gives me a good supper at 9 o'clock at night and that is a great inducement too, I'll have you know.  Well, now this may all be so for there is no accounting for a woman's taste, even well raised women, or you and Josie and Pat would never have roosted so much lower of late.  I have not determined to marry her yet.  In fact I have not made up my mind to love her yet, more than I do her good suppers.  But she is really admirable and has a very correct appreciation of men, preferring to esteem those most who have won their selves to promotion by hard fought battles in their countries service, instead of running for it, John Gilpin races.

Now I must close this letter for it was written in rather an ill mood and contains more complaint and crimination than I usually make.  I am happy to say that my health is tolerable.  I am anxious at times to live through this war, at other times I care but little about it.  I want to avenge as many of the wrongs committed against those I love as I can, for I really believe he who kills the greatest number of abolition thieves and their abettors is the best Christian and when I shall have fully done my duty in that respect I shall not be afraid to die.  We have a heavy task before us this summer and thousands who are living today will bite the dust before six months elapse.

I hope you will excuse my animadversions towards your Kentucky friends and cheer them if you can to efficiency and usefulness.  I would be glad to see you but that is not in reach now, hence I must be content with my lot.  I know you will answer this the first opportunity, if for nothing else to quarrel with me.  So let me hear from you.  I will be glad even if it is a quarrel.

Jno. F. Goodner

4d    Louisa Donnell Goodner, born 3–31–1825, died 2–12–1912, in McKinney, Texas.  Interred in Pecan Grove Cemetery, McKinney, Texas.  Married 1^st Robert Dowell, 10–6–1841 (born about 1820.  Interred in Pecan Grove Cemetery, McKinney, Texas).  Merchant and Farmer.  Had moved from Alexandria, Tennessee, to McKinney, Texas, shortly after marriage, died of small pox.

1e    Martha Dowell, born about 1842–3.  Married James Harrison Kitching, 2–2–1870, at Alexandria, Tennessee (born 5–28–1840; died 8–11–1893).  Interred in Alexandria, Tennessee.

1f     Lulu Kitching, born 5–26–1873; died 12–25–1882, at age 9. Interred Alexandria, Tennessee.

2f     Infant Son; died at birth, 8–30–1871.

3f     Ella Kitching, born 12–14–1878, at Alexandria, Tennessee, died 7–28–1897, McKinney, Texas, at age 18.  Not married.

4f     Robert Kitching, born 1–16–1875, at Alexandria, Tennessee; died 5–24–1931, McKinney, Texas.  Interred in Pecan Grove Cemetery at McKinney.  Single.

5f     Jesse Kitching, born 2–6–1877, Alexandria, Tennessee, died 11–18–1951, Dallas, Texas.  Married Carrie Peevy Leigh, 10–18–1921, Dallas, Texas (born Dalhart, Texas).  Both interred in Laural Land Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.  No issue.

6f     Hallie Kitching, born 7–24–1881, Alexandria, Tennessee.  Married Fred B. Miesenhelder, 8–27–1918, McKinney, Texas (born 4–7–1877).  Contractor and Builder.  Residence: 119 East Wallace Street, Gonzales, Texas.  No issue.

7f     Edith Kitching, born 4–21–1884, Alexandria, Tennessee.  Married Washington K. Penn (died 9–181950 at McKinney, Texas.  Interred in Pecan Grove Cemetery, McKinney, Texas).  Residence of Mrs. Edith Penn, McKinney, Texas.

1g    Washington K. Penn, 3^rd, born 12–17–1922.  District Manager. Prudential Life Insurance Company, Dallas, Texas. Single.

8f     James Goodner Kitching, born 8–9–1887, Alexandria, Tennessee.  Married Bess Haydon, 9–14–1913.  Residence: Van Alstyne, Texas.

1g    James H. Kitching, born 3–15–1916.  Address unknown.  No issue.

2e    Jennie Dowell, born about 1848.  Married W. J. Stokes (died De Kalb County, Tennessee).  Dry Goods Merchant in McKinney, Texas.

1f     Katie Stokes, died childhood.  Interred McKinney, Texas.

2f     Maude Stokes, died childhood.  Interred McKinney, Texas.

3f     James B. Stokes, born 9–5–1877; died 3–8–1956, Lancaster, Texas.  Interment in Pecan Grove Cemetery, McKinney, Texas.  Methodist. He was Cotton Broker.  Married Julia A. Giriard, 1910, (daughter of Minnie K. Giriard) born 1897, St. Joe, Missouri.

1g    James W. Stokes, born 3–12–1911, Dallas, Texas.  In U.S. Navy 21 years.  Was Chief Petty Officer.  Graduate of USN Electronic School, College Level.  Now an Electronic Engineer at Alamogordo, New Mexico.  Single.  Residence: Temporary–1611 Indiana Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico.  Permanent–218 N "L" Street, Harlingen, Texas.

3e    Robert F. Dowell, born 4–23–1850; died 11–24–1924.  Interred in Pecan Grove Cemetery, McKinney, Texas.  Served as Secretary. for City of McKinney, Texas, for 30 years.  Married Tollie Throckrnorten; died 1892.

1f     Hugh Dowell, died 7–20–1897.  Single.  Interment McKinney, Texas.

2f     Annie Dowell, died 2–20–1920, in McKinney, Texas.  Married T. P. West. No received. of issue.  Louisa Donnel Goodner.  Married 2^nd Colonel N. D. Allison of McKinney, Texas.

4e    James Allison; died Galveston, Texas.  Married Gertha Fairchild.  No issue.

5e    Lulu Allison; died in her youth, unmarried.

5d    Nancy Jane Goodner, born 4–12–1827; died 7–12–1894.  Married James Nesbet Cartwright, 3–20–1844 (born 3–28–1818; died 10–16–1895).  Both Interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee (Tennessee Records by Acklen).  No issue.

6d    Amanda Ray Goodner, born 12–2–1830; died 3–25–1895 at Alexandria, Tennessee.  Interred in Alexandria.  Married James M. Baird, 11–23–1848, Alexandria, Tennessee (born 7–24–1825; died 4–23–1880.  Interred in Alexandria, Tennessee).  Merchant.

1e    Etta Baird, born 8–13–1851; died 11–15–1878. (Shortly after marriage).  Married Dr. Burton.  No issue.

2e    Ophelia Baird, born 9–14–1853, Alexandria, Tennessee; died 6–27–1912.  Married Byron Bell, 12–22–1875, Alexandria (born 9–13–1850; died 2–4–1934).  Teacher.  Hotel Keeper.  Merchant.  Resided in Alexandria, Tennessee.  Both interred in Alexandria.

1f     Carrie Bell, born 11–13–1880, Alexandria, Tennessee; died 7–9–1919.  Married Dib Dinges, 1–21–1901 (died 5–4–1958).

1g    David Byron Dinges, born 11–25–1901; died 1956.  Banker and Merchant. Resided in Lebanon, Tennessee.  Married Lucille Olds, 5–21–1921, daughter of R. L. Olds.  Mrs. Dinges resides in Lebanon, Tennessee.

1h    David Byron Dinges, Jr, born 12–24–1926. Photographer. Navy.  Married Carrie Beard, 11–20–1953.  Residence: 906 Main Street, Alamosa, Colorado.

1i    Renée Dinges, born 9–21–1954.

2i    Karen Dinges, born 1–21–1955.

3i    Carrie Dinges, born 8–17–1957.

2f     Anne Ray Bell, born 11–26–1884.  Single.  Residence: Alexandria, Tennessee.

3f     Willette Bell, born 2–19–1889; died 6–30–1906, Alexandria, Tennessee.  Single.

3e    Emma Caroline (Carrie) Baird, born 3–14–1859, Alexandria, Tennessee; died 9–6–1946.  Married W. W. Jones.

1f     Dr. Baird Jones, born 8–20–1887; died 12–19–1944. Resided at 108 E. Burton Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  Married Ruth Quisenberry, 4–10–1918 (born 7–31–1893).

1g    Ruth Baird Jones, born 7–29–1925.  Residence: 108 E Burton Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

7d    James Brown Goodner, born 6–2–1833; died 1850.  Went to California. in "Gold Rush.”  Died en route or after arrival, age 17.

8d    Thomas Conrad Goodner, born 3–24–1837; died 11–3–1916.  Born at Alexandria, Tennessee.  Attended Irving College near McKinnville, Tennessee, and Lebanon Law School at Lebanon, Tennessee, afterwards known as Cumberland University, graduating in 1857.  Went to Manchester, Coffey County, Texas, in 1857, and engaged in the practice of law.  At outbreak of the Civil War, he returned home and raised a Company from Wilson and De Kalb Counties, Tennessee; was elected Captain in the Confederate Army, Company K, 24^th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers. Company K left Alexandria the latter part of 1861 (Goodspeed's Tennessee. History, pg 852)  After the termination of the War he remained in Nashville, Tennessee, for one year, and then moved to McKinney, Collin County, Texas, December 11^th, 1866.  He became briefly connected with the law office of Throckmorton and Brawn, J. W. Throckmorton being at the time Governor of the State; the following August he formed a law partnership with James H. Jenkins under the name of "Jenkins and Goodner."  This lasted ten years, when Goodner was elected County Judge.  He held that office nine years. In 1884, he retired from the Judgeship and resumed the practice of law.  In 1887, he became Vice–President and Assistant Cashier of file Collin County National Bank, holding that position for fourteen years until retirement.  Also was a farm owner, and a merchant.  In politics he was a Democrat, and was a member of the State Convention which nominated Dick Hubbard for Governorship.  Member of the First Methodist Church and served as Stewart and Trustee.  He was made a Mason in Tennessee in 1866; admitted to St. John's Lodge in McKinney in 1867.  Was member of Royal Arch Masons, and active in Masonic Work.  He died at his residence on South Tennessee Street, and was interred in the Pecan Grove Cemetery with Masonic services.  Married Jennie Box, 12–14–1871 (born 2–22–1850; died 1–27–1917) daughter of Stephen and Tabitha Box, née Bristow, and a half sister to Captain J. H. Jenkins, who for some 10 years was a law partner of Thomas C.

1e    Mary Goodner, born 5–6–1875, McKinney, Texas; died 4–6–1951.  Married Judge William Folsom Moore, 12–17–1896 (born 10–28–1868; died 11–3–1956).  Judge Moore was born in Starkville, Lamar County, Texas, a son of Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Moore, née Neal.  He attended schools in Blossom, Prairie, Deport, and Clarksville.  Entered Washington and Lee University in 1888.  Was proficient in Latin, debating and speaking. Entered University of Texas in 1890, graduated with honors in 1892.  Beta Theta Pi, President. of Rusk Literary Society, Baptist, Mason, Knights Templar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Paris, Texas, Schools, Member of the Chamber of Commerce, was a State Legislator, and served as first Assistant Attorney–General and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for Texas in 1940, serving out the unexpired term of Chief–Justice C. F. Cureton; died at age 88.  Interred in Evergreen Cemetery, Paris, Texas.

1f     Blanche Moore, born 9–10–1899; died 2–10–1920; died while attending Ward–Belmont School in Nashville, Tennessee.

2f     Margie Lou Moore, born 8–25–1902, Paris, Texas.  Attended Ward–Belmont School in Nashville, Tennessee.  Married Dudley Crawford Hubbard, 2–23–1929, Paris, Texas (died 9–15–1933, son of August C. and Eugenia Hubbard, née Moss).  Mrs. Hubbard resides at 711 Pine Bluff Street, Paris, Texas.

1g    Mary Goodner Moore Hubbard, born 3–6–1933, Paris, Texas. Attended Ward–Belmont School, Nashville, Tennessee, and Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.  Pi Beta Phi. Member DAR, No. 426522.  Married Dwight Allen Free, Jr, 6–26–1954, son Dwight Allen Free, Sr, and Marguerite Free, née Agey, of Dallas and Houston, Texas.  Mr. Free, Jr, a Graduate of Southern Methodist University, with MS in Geology.  Sigma Alpha Epsilon.  Employed as a geologist with Continental Oil Company, Houston, Texas.  Residence: 5406 Schumacher, Houston 27, Texas.

1h    Hardy Moore Free, born 7–9–1955, died 7–13–1955.  Twin of Dudley.

2h    Dudley Agey Free, born 7–9–1955. Twin of Hardy.

3h    Mary Margery Free, born 12–25–1956.

3f     Hardy Goodner Moore, born 3–20–1906, Paris, Texas.  Attorney.  Partner in law firm of "Moore & Moore" in Paris, Texas, with offices in First National Bank Building.  Residence: Paris, Texas, 2213 Hubbard.  Married Athalie Louise Millican, 5–25–1931; daughter of Oliver H. and Athalie Millican, née North, of Austin, Texas.

1g    Athalie North Moore, born 6–25–1933.  Married William James Lipscomb, 12–28–1954, Paris, Texas, in Holy Cross Episcopal Church.  Mr. Lipscomb a graduate of Paschal High School in Ft. Worth, and University of Texas.  Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Mrs. Lipscomb a Graduate of Paris (Texas) High School, and University of Texas. Also attended Penn Hall Jr. College at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Kappa Gamma Sorority.  Residence: 500 Calhoun, Houston, Texas.  No issue as of 1958.

4f     Mary Josephine Moore, born 9–1–1908, Paris, Texas.  Married Daniel Foltz Searight, 1–30–1940.  Son of William F. Searight of Austin, Texas. Daniel F. is a retired President of the Walter Tips Hardware Company, a wholesale firm.  No issue.

2e    Blanche Goodner, born 3–7–1876, McKinney, Texas, died 3–19–1883.

3e    Thomas Conrad Goodner, Jr, born 2–3–1883, died 4–5–1932.  Worked in bank as a young man.  Later was in partnership with his brother in the Goodner Coal and Grain Company.  After he removed to Dallas, he was a bookkeeper and auditor for the American Ice Company until his decease.  Episcopalian.  Married Ethel Abernathy (born 1–9–1885, died 5–23–1925.  Interred in McKinney, Texas; daughter of Judge M. G. Abernathy).

1f     Jennie Belle Goodner, born 12–4–1911, McKinney, Texas.  Married William Charles Jones, 8–14–1937, Dallas, Texas.  Salesman. Episcopalian (born 9–23–1908, son Robert F. Jones).  Residence:  4716 Street, John's Drive, Dallas, Texas.  No issue.

2f     Donna Martha Goodner, born 6–17–1918, McKinney, Texas.  Married Dr. Tom R. Turner, 8–29–1941, McKinney, Texas.  Graduate of Baylor Medical College, Minnesota University, specializing in Neurology and Psychiatry (born 5–19–1917, son of L. W. Turner, Arp, Texas).  Residence: 1831 E 31^st Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1g    Nancy Ethel Turner, born 1–26–1944.

2g    Ann Rosamond Turner, born 7–19–1946.

3g    Richard Leonard Turner, born 2–11–1951.  Thomas Conrad Goodner, Jr.  Married 2^nd Mrs. Marguerite Cook Jones.  She lives in Amarillo, Texas.

3f     Thomas Conrad Goodner, 3^rd, born 1–7–1930, died 6–5–1948. While a student at Texas Tech, he was working in the oil fields at Phillips, & his death was due to accidental burns there.

4e    James Box Goodner, born 8–7–1888; died 4–10–1946.  Resided in McKinney, Texas.  Married Vera Belden, 2–7–1914, daughter of J. O. Belden of McKinney, Texas.

1f     Mary Ann Goodner, born 12–21–1918.  Married C. E. Lane, 6–3–1951. (Deceased^).  No issue.

2f     James Box Goodner, 2^nd, born 9–22–1921, died 4–11–1944.  Attended University of Texas.  Enlisted in Army Air Force World War II. Received commission as 2^nd Lieutenant at Victorville, California, in October, 1943, as Bombardier and Navigator.  Overseas in February, 1944.  He made one mission over France, one over Belgium, and on his third mission over Germany was shot down near the town of Brunswick.  Received posthumously the Purple Heart, Presidential Citation, and State of Texas Citation.  In June of 1949, his remains were returned to the United States and reinterred with honors in the Pecan Grove Cemetery at McKinney, Texas.  Married May Mathis, 10–28–1943; daughter of James R. Dikes.  No issue.