Biography of Captain John Alexander Goodgame, Holly Springs, Ark
· 25 April 2014 ·
Published by "Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas"; Chicago, Illinois: Goodspeed Publishing, 1890. "Capt. John A. Goodgame is a merchant, farmer, and the postmaster at Holly Springs, Ark. This wide-awake and very successful business man owes his nativity to Bibb County, Ala., where he was born in 1828, and recieved his education in the common schools. He remained at home until 1851, and then emigrated to Holly Springs, Ark., Ark., where he was married, in 1852, to Miss Permelia E. Watkins, a native of Alabama, and the daughter of Harlan and Nancy Watkins, natives of Kentucky, where they were married. Her parents afterward emigrated to Alabama, where the father died a few years later. Mrs. Watkins was married again and removed to Mississippi, thence in 1853 to Dallas County, Ark., and during the war to Texas, where she died in 1884. Mr. Goodgame's union was blessed by the birth of eight children, three sons and three daughters now living. Since his marriage Mr. Goodgame has lived in his present neighborhood on three different farms, and now has 100 acres. Since 1879, or for about ten years, he has been engaged in merchandising at Holly Springs, and for about eight years has been postmaster. During the late war he was about four years in the Confederate army, Company C, Thirty-third Arkansas Infantry, serving as lieutenant the first year, and then captain until the close of the war. He operated in Arkansas and Louisiana and fought at Prairie Grove, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Saline, etc. He surrendered at Marshall, Tex., in May, 1865, and returned home. He was formerly a Whig in politics, but is now a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Gen. Scott in 1852. He was a member of the temperance order of P. of H. He and his wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1855. His parents, James and Telitha C. (Cobb) Goodgame, were born in Georgia in 1799, and South Carolina, in 1808, respectively. They were married in Bibb County, where Mr. Goodgame died in 1884. THe mother is still living, and has been a member of the Baptist Church for many years. The paternal grandfather, John Goodgame, was born in Georgia and died in Talledega County, Ala. Mr. Goodgame was of English-Irish descent, but the ancestors were early settlers in Amaerica, and was a soldier in the Creek War. He was a farmer. The paternal grandmother of our subject, who name was Sarah E. Crockett, was a second cousin of David Crockett, ans was born in Georgia, and died in Alabama when about seventy-five years of age. She was a member of the Baptist Church. The maternal grandfather, Alexander Cobb, was born in South Carolina and died in Bibb County, Ala. He was a soldier in the war with the Indians." (Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas - Goodspeed Publishing Company - Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis
