| A B C D F G H JK L M OP R S T V W Y |
Jacob S. Goodin
Jacob S. Goodin, presiding
judge of the Mississippi County Court, was born in Hardin County, Ky.,
March 23, 1828. His parents, Girard and Lettie (Swank) Goodin, were
both natives of Hardin County, Ky., of German descent. The great-
grandparents on both sides came from Germany, and located in Hardin
County, where they died. The grandfather Goodin was killed by the
Indians in Kentucky. The grandfather Swank removed to Mississippi
County, Mo. in 1837, and settled near Charleston, on the place now
owned by Robert Langsdale, it being a wild, dense forest at that time,
abounding in wild animals and game of all kinds found in the
Mississippi Valley. Deer went in droves from twenty-five to seventy
head. He died in Charleston, having built the first brick house in
that vicinity. The place is now owned by James Smith. Girard Goodin
immigrated with his family to Mississippi County in 1835, coming down
the Ohio River on a flatboat. They landed at Bird's Point, from whence
they went to some land near Charleston, upon which they made a
settlement, it being the same farm upon which William T. Roberts now
lives. A hewed log house had been erected previous to Mr. Goodin's
purchase. He lived there until his death in 1849. His widow lived
until 1852. To them were born nine children, three of whom are living:
Jacob S., Louisa and Oliver M. The subject of this sketch has been a
resident of Mississippi County nearly all his life, he being but eight
years of age when his parents removed thither. He remained with them
until their deaths, when he went to work for himself, choosing farming
as his vocation. In 1887 he removed to his present farm, consisting of
160 acres of good land. In 1880 he was elected county judge, taking
his seat the next year. He is now serving his fourth term in that
office. He is a successful business man, and is one of the prominent
citizens of his county. On September 23, 1857, he married Eliza E.
Swank, a daughter of John Swank. They have two children living, Arthur
S. and William O. Mr. and Mrs. Goodin are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He is a Mason and a member of the Agricultural
Wheel. |
Franklin S. Goodin
Franklin S. Goodin was born
in Hardin County, Ky., September 8, 1829. He is a son of John and
Catherine A. (Swank) Goodin, both of whom were natives of Hardin
County, Ky., and were of Scotch and German descent, respectively. The
grandfather, Samuel Goodin, was a native of Virginia, and immigrated
to Kentucky at a very early day, in which State he and wife both died.
The maternal great-grandparents came from Germany and located in
Hardin County, Ky. They had several serious encounters with the
Indians. At one time they were riding horseback when both their horses
were shot from under them. Mr. Swank ran to a cave, but was followed
by the Indians and shot. His wife ran to a mill near by, where she was
protected and saved. Their son, Jacob Swank, the grandfather of the
subject of this sketch, was born in Kentucky, and was in the Indian
War in that State. He afterward removed his family to Mississippi
County, Mo. (in the spring of 1836), at which time that county was
very wild and unimproved. He entered a large tract of land, which he
added to by purchase, and at the time of his death was a large land
owner. He and wife both died in Mississippi County. The father, John
Goodin, was born on March 9, 1803. He was a farmer, and in 1836 he
built a flatboat and brought his family and all his goods and stock
down the Ohio River to Cairo, when that place had but one hotel and a
few old buildings. He removed his family to Big Lake, Tywappity
Township, where he made a settlement, there being but three others in
that section. The country was very wild and full of game. He owned
about 600 acres of land, upon which he built a log cabin with
calpboard doors and roof. He afterward purchased a farm in Mathews
Prairie, where he resided a few years, and went back to his old place.
By many days of hard labor he made a valuable farm, upon which he
spent the remainder of his life. His death occurred in 1850, and his
wife's in 1868. They had six sons, two of whom are living; Franklin
S., and Albert V., a resident of Nashville, Tenn. The ones deceased
are Jacob V., Samuel G., John W. and William W. Franklin S. was but
nine years of age when his parents came to Mississippi County. He
remained on the farm with his father until he was nineteen years of
age, when he entered the Arcadia (Mo.) High School, and was just
beginning the second session, when he was called away by the death of
his father, after which he remained with his mother, helping to
educate his younger brothers, until he was married in February, 1857,
to Sallie Harned, when he began farming for himself. His wife died in
1860, having borne him one child who is now deceased. He was married
again in 1865, choosing for his second wife Jennie E., daughter of
Euriel and Catherine A. (Logan) Haw, the former being one of the First
Methodist ministers in this section of country. Mr. and Mrs. Goodin
have had six children: Mary (deceased), John H., Frank S., Jr., Alice
S., Lindsay V. and Alfred W. (deceased). In 1871 Mr. Goodin removed to
Charleston, where he still resides. Mr. Goodin is one of the pioneers
of Mississippi County, and has witnessed its development from a wild
wilderness to a wealthy, thickly settled country. He and wife a re
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South. |
Oliver M. Goodin
Oliver M. Goodin, a
successful farmer and enterprising citizen of Mississippi County, was
born in that county on January 6, 1838, and is a son of Girard and
Lettie (Swank) Goodin, both natives of Kentucky. Thomas Goodin, the
grandfather, immigrated to Kentucky from Virginia, dying in the former
State. Jacob Swank, the maternal grandfather, was a Pennsylvanian, who
immigrated to Mississippi County in 1836, and located near Charleston
where he died. Girard Goodin was reared and married in his native
State, and was a farmer by vocation. In 1836 he, with his wife and
nine children, came on a flat-boat down the Ohio River to Bird's
Point, where they unloaded, and taking their teams and wagons went to
near Charleston and located. Mr. Goodin lived there until his death in
1840. He and wife had ten children, three of whom are living: Jacob,
Louisa and Oliver M. Those deceased are William, Ellen, John,
Nathaniel, and three that died in infancy. Oliver M. was reared on a
farm. He was but two years of age when his father died, and after the
death of his mother in 1850, he lived with his older brother, William,
until he was of age, when he began working for himself. In1878 he
purchased 160 acres of land, which is now under cultivation with good
improvements. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Ruth Fowkles. She
died in September 1874, having borne him three children, two of whom
are living, Lizzie and Ollie. The one deceased is
Ruth. |
James O. Gray
James O. Gray, proprietor of
Gray's Mill, located in Wolf Island Township, Mississippi County, Mo.,
was born in Marshall County, Ky., October 9, 1837. He is the only one
living of five children, born to Harrison and Mary Gray, natives of
Kentucky. In the fall of 1859 the family emigrated from their native
State to Southeast Missouri, and located in Wolf Island Township,
Mississippi County. Harrison Gray was a miller, and followed his trade
until his death in 1864. His wife died at the home of J.O. Gray, 1879.
Their children who are dead are James B., William H., Bedford and
Mary. James O. came with his parents to Southeast Missouri, and
engaged in the milling business with George Keiser, of Mississippi
County. After a year he began working with his father in the same
business at the mouth of James Bayou and continued for six or seven
years. In the meantime his father died, and he returned to Wolf Island
and purchased his present mill, which he has since managed. He is also
engaged in farming. Mr. Gray was first married to Emily Harvell, who
died about eleven months after. He next married Anna Eligood, by whom
he had four children: William, Mary (the wife of Walter Parker), Naomi
(wife of Lewis Husk) and Laura. The mother of these children died in
1869. Mr. Gray afterward married Miss Sidney Roach. Two children have
blessed this union, Bettie and
Maud. |
James S. Green
James S. Green, station-agent
at Charleston, for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern
Railroad, was born in Benton, Scott County, Mo., on February 7, 1860.
He is a son of Levi S. and Jennie E. (Myers) Green, the former a
native of New York State and the latter of Sikeston, Scott Co., Mo.,
her parents settling int hat county at an early day. James was reared
in his native village, where his education was begun, and afterward
attended Cape Girardeau College. At the age of eighteen years he began
the study of telegraphy, which he mastered about 1878. His first
appointment as station-agent and operator was at Corning, Ark., where
he remained about six months. He was then successively at Poplar
Bluffs, Allenville, Jefferson Barracks, Cabot, Ark., Chalreston for
three years, Helena, Ark., and thence back to Charleston in the latter
part of 1885, in which place he has since been a resident. In
September 1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Bettie Calendar, a
native of Louisville, Ky., and a daughter of Moses and Nellie
Calendar. Their union has been blessed by two bright little daughters,
Florence L. and Mildred J. |
James A. Greer
James A. Greer, a prominent
farmer residing near Bertrand, Mississippi County, was born in 1825,
in Henry County, Tenn., and is a son of Hezekiah. The latter, when but
eleven years of age, came with her parents from South Carolina to
Tennessee. Her parents located in Central Tennessee, but after the
Jackson Purchase went to Benton County, where they died and were
buried. Hezekiah Greer lived with his parents until he was married,
when he engaged in farming in Henry County, Tenn. Remaining there
several years, he removed to Carroll County and remained four or five
years, when he went to Humphrey County. When that county was divided
in 1836 he was placed in Benton County, in which he lived until his
death in 1862, being about fifty-five years of age. His wife was born
in 1805 and died in 1864. Both parents' deaths were caused by the war.
They had eleven children, four of whom died in infancy: James A.,
William H. (deceased), John Riley (deceased), Rebecca Ann (Mrs. Harvey
Madden), Greenbury, Cynthia J. (Mrs. Dr. J.B. Florence) and Francis
Marion. At the time of the father's death, he owned 1,137 acres of
land, which was divided equally among the seven children. James A.
remained with is parents until he was married in August 1847, to
Jemina Rushing, daughter of William Rushing, a native of North
Carolina, of English descent. After his marriage Mr. Greer went to
work for himself, clearing the woods to make a home for himself and
family. He afterward traded farms with his brother, residing on the
latter place from the fall of 1859 until 1871, when he sold the farm
and removed to Mississippi County, locating where he now resides on
December 16, 1871. He now has 240 acres under good cultivation, upon
which he has a nice residence. He and wife have had ten children, five
of whom died in infancy. Mary Catherine (Mrs. J.T. Childress) died in
May 24, 1887, leaving five children. Those living are Sally Ann (Mrs.
W.W. Gaty), Martin L., Cynthia E. (Mrs. Thomas Strickland) and
Hezekiah D. Mr. and Mrs. Greer have been active members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South since 1842. He is a Mason, to which
order his father also belonged. |
Martin Luther Greer
Martin Luther Greer, a
substantial farmer residing near Bertrand, was born in Benton County,
Tenn., on December 9, 1858. He is a son of James A. and Jemima
(Rushing) Greer, both of whom are natives of Tennessee, who immigrated
to Mississippi County, Mo., in 1871. Martin L. lived at home with his
parent until he was twenty-three years of age, assisting on the farm
and attending school during the winters, securing most of his
education after removing to Missouri. On December 20, 1881, he was
united in marriage with Emma J. Jordon, who was born in North
Carolina, and is a daughter of Henry Jordon. Her mother died when she
was but a child, and her father went to the war, and was never heard
from again. It is supposed that he was killed. She was educated by
J.C. Yarbrough, of Camden, Tenn., with whom she lived until her
marriage. After his marriage Mr. Greer located on the farm upon which
he now resides. Three children have blessed their union: Stella,
Walker and Jemima. Mr. and Mrs. Greer are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. He is a member of the A.F. & A.M. Lodge
No. 330. Although Mr. Greer is a young man, he takes considerable
interest in everything that tends to promote the welfare of his
community. In politics he is a
Democrat. |
John L. Greer
John L. Greer, a farmer of
Mississippi County, residing near East Prairie, was born in Ohio
County, Ky. He is a son of William and Sarah P. (Cox) Greer, also
natives of Ohio County, Ky. They reared their family in their native
county, and in the spring of 1859 came to Southeast Missouri, and
located upon the land where the subject of this sketch now lives. They
spent the remainder of their lives on this farm. Mr. Greer dying in
1865, and Mrs. Greer in the fall of 1887. To them were born six
children, three of whom are living: James L., William I. and John L.
The two gentlemen last named reside together on the old homestead, and
James L. resides on a farm near them. Mr. John L. Greer has 120 acres
of land, which has been greatly improved since the spring of 1860.
Politically he is a Democrat. |
Nathan M. Griggs
Nathan M. Griggs, of
Mississippi County, Mo., was born in Meade County, Ky., in February
1842. He is one of three surviving children of a family of nine, born
to the union of David Griggs and Martha J. Staples. The father was
born in New York, and immigrated to Kentucky when young. His wife was
a native of Virginia, and they were both of English lineage. Mr.
Griggs was a physician, and practiced his profession in Kentucky until
his death in 1855. His wife died three years later, in 1858. Their
three living children are Nathan M., Clarence e. and Levantha J. (Mrs.
Stephen Smith of New York). Although Mr. Griggs was a physician, his
family was reared on a farm. Nathan M. received a good education in
the common schools, and remained with his parents until their deaths,
when he began working for himself. He followed boating for several
years on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, running from Concordia, Ky.,
to New Orleans. In 1875 he removed to Mississippi County, Mo.,
locating where he now resides. The farm consists of 160 acres, nearly
all of which is under cultivation, with good improvements. He was
married in March 1875 to Lydia A., a daughter of John and Jane (Peak)
Smith. Mr. Griggs and wife are members of the Baptist Church. They
have three children: John D., Alonzo E. and Martha J. Mr. Girggs takes
considerable interest in educational matters, and has served as school
director. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the
Agricultural Wheel. |
W.F. Grinstead
Dr. W.F. Grinstead, a
prominent physician and surgeon of Charleston, was born near that
place on October 8, 1853. He is a son of Andrew J. and Rachel A.
(Brewer) Ginstead, the former born in Scott County, Mo., and the
latter in Christian County, Ky. The grandfather, Edward Grinstead,
emigrated from Warren County, Ky., to Southeast Missouri in the
thirties, and settled in Scott County. Edward's father was David
Grinstead, who was raised in Virginia, thence with his family to
Virginia. John had a son Richard, who was a general in Washington's
army at the close of the Revolutionary War. He was a farmer by
occupation, which he followed until his death in 1848. The father was
also a farmer and trader in live stock, in which business he was
engaged the most of his life. He removed to Mississippi County about
1850, and remained there until his death in 1861. His wife died in
1875. They were the parents of four children, two of whom are living.
Those dead are George D. and Lorenzo M. The two in life are Thomas M.
and Dr. William F. The latter was reared on his father's farm until he
was nineteen years of age when he entered the Charleston Academy,
remaining for two years. In 1876 he began the study of medicine under
Dr. J.L. Haw, then of Charleston, but now of Farmington, Mo. In the
fall of 1876 he entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, and
after remaining there one term, he entered the Vanderbilt Medical
College at Nashville, Tenn., graduating in the summer of 1877. During
the winter of 1880-81 he held the position of interne or
house surgeon in the City Hospital of Nashville, and in the meantime
took lectures in the University of Nashville, medical department,
receiving his second diploma in 1881. He immediately began the
practice of his profession at Charleston, which he has successfully
continued. Upon locating in Charleston he was appointed local surgeon
for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which position he still holds. He
also held the office of county physician for three years. He was
elected president of the Southeast Missouri Medical Association in
1885, and held the office one term. He had previously served as vice
president of the association for two terms. He has written a number of
essays which have been published in the St. Louis Medical
Courier, viz: "Abscess of the Liver" read in May 1882; "Mother's
Marks" read in November of that year, and "A Bad Cold" read in May
1884. The Doctor is a man of enterprise and public spirit, who seeks
to promote the welfare of his people and
community. |
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