Goode, John F. (1827-1917)

GOODE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/7/2016 at 23:15:04

The Advocate-Tribune newspaper, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, Sep 17, 1885, p.3

[In Sep 1885, residents in Warren County were not happy with the Republican controlled county officials and formed a People’s County Convention to nominate county officials on a People’s County ticket. The following “biographical” information was written for those candidates]

John F. Goode, the nominee for Member of Board of Supervisors, was an “old settler” in Warren county when the writer first set food upon its sod. He was for many years a most successful farmer. For the last few years he had been engaged in mercantile pursuits with equal success. He is a keen, thorough-going, prudent business man, of sterling ability and abundant independence of though and action. The office to which he is nominated is one that lies nearest the pocket of the people. The office has of recent years been administered by men who didn’t make half a success attending to their own business and did even worse attending to the business of the county. The people have suffered severely from their mismanagement and are anxious for a change. It is a most responsible and difficult position, and Warren county has not a single citizen better qualified to fill the place than John F. Goode.

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.574
JOHN FRANCIS GOODE
John Francis Goode is now practically retired from business life, although he retains connection with the Citizens Bank of Milo as its vice president. There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect so uniformly accorded him but throughout his entire career, covering eighty-one years, he has never deviated from what his judgment would indicate to be right between himself and his fellowmen. In all of his business activity he has been straightforward and reliable and his success has come as the just reward of earliest, persistent effort. He is moreover entitled to representation in this volume as one of the pioneer residents of the county. He is a native of Virginia, his birth having occurred June 29, 1827, in Prince Edward County, about twelve miles from Farmville, and in the neighborhood in which General Lee surrendered his forces to General Grant in the Civil war.
His father, Joseph Goode, also a Virginian. was born in 1798 and lived to attain the remarkable age of ninety-four years. His death even then came by accident, he being trampled under foot by a drove of horses. Early in life he developed a splendid physique and the grace of athletic symmetry accom­panied his every move. He seemed never more at ease than when in the saddle and sat his horse as a part of him, so simultaneously did he respond to the rhythmic movements of his steed. He was a hatter by trade and followed that occupation for years. Of a happy, cheerful temperament, he was a companionable gentleman and wherever he went made many friends. Devoted to the cause of Christianity, he often engaged in preaching the gospel and did all in his power to promote the cause. In 1854 he came to Iowa, settling in White Breast Township, Warren County. A grassy mound in Goode's Chapel burying-ground marks the last resting place of this man of many virtues, whose life was well worthy of emulation.
In early manhood he wedded Mary A. Johnson, who was also a native of Virginia and her many deeds of kindness and charity will make her long remembered by all who knew her. She passed away in 1878. They became the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom John F. Goode was the second in order of birth. The eldest, W. P. Goode, formerly the popular host of a hotel in Lebanon, Kansas, now resides in Oklahoma. Rebecca Caroline, residing in Milo, is the widow of John Smith, an old hotel-keeper of this place. Sarah is the deceased wife of Burwell Britton, of Highland County, Ohio. Henry is now living a retired life in Milo. Mary B., is the widow of Thompson Walton, who was a farmer of White Breast Township. Lottie V. is the wife of Robert W. Kimzey, a farmer of Liberty Township.
John F. Goode, whose name heads this sketch, was reared to agricultural pursuits and early began work in the fields. The removal of his family to Ohio made it possible for him to pursue his education in the public schools of that state. On starting out in life for himself he chose the occupation to which he was reared and invested in land on section 32, Belmont Township, Warren County, Iowa. With characteristic energy he began its development and as the years passed brought the fields under a high state of cultivation. He continued the improvement of the farm until 1862, when he removed to Sandersville, Iowa, where for three years he was engaged in general merchan­dising. He then lived on his farm until 1878, when he removed to Kansas and spent one year in merchandising at Council Grove, Morris County. He became a resident of Milo in 1879 and continued in the same field of activity until about 1897, engaging in general merchandising under his own name for a time, while later he became senior partner of the firm of Goode & Paxton. Eventually he traded his interest in the store for a tract of land and retired from mercantile business. He has always been interested in farming and is now the owner of some good farming property. A man of resourceful ability, he has carefully utilized his opportunities for advancement and in this way he became the first vice president of the Citizens Bank of Milo, of which he was also one of the organizers. He is so connected with it at this writing in 1908.
On the 18th of January, 1854, was celebrated the marriage of John Francis Goode and Miss Elizabeth Walton, the wedding taking place at her home in Highland County, Ohio. She was born in that county, while her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Walton, were natives of North Carolina, whence they removed to the Buckeye state during the pioneer epoch in its history. Mr. and Mrs. Goode have become the parents of nine children. Mary E., born January 31, 1855, is now the wife of 0. J. Higbee, a resident farmer of Liberty Township. Emma F., born September 6, 1856, is the wife of John B. Walker, of Milo. Caroline C., born October 16, 1858, is the wife of Louis Shafer, formerly of the firm of Shafer & Wadle, general merchants of Milo, but now a resident of North Dakota. LeRoy W., born August 15, 4860, died at the age of two and a half years. Josephine, born October 15, 1862, only attained the age of eighteen months. John W., born October 15, 1865, was graduated from Simpson College, of Indianola, Iowa, and died in Colorado in early manhood. Dolly M., who was born November 6, 1867, and was graduated in stenography at Oskaloosa, Iowa, is the deceased wife of Tony Wadle, formerly of the firm of Shafer & Wadle. Joseph N., born July 23, 1870, was graduated from the commercial department of Simpson College in the class of 1893 and is now assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank of Milo. Lucy A., born November 5, 1872, completes the family.
Mr. Goode is probably the oldest Mason in the state of Iowa, having been initiated into the order at Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1848. He is now the only survivor of the first officers of that lodge. He has since established several different lodges, including two in Newbern, Iowa, and also the Milo lodge and has served in nearly all of their offices. He has long been a member of the Christian Union Church and for many years voted with the democracy but during the past twenty years has supported the prohibition party—a fact which indicates his attitude on the temperance question. He was nominated by that party for the legislature and has always done much for the interests of the city in temperance lines. He has been honored with election to the offices of alderman and mayor of Milo and has exercised his official perogatives in support of various movements and measures which have been of utmost benefit in public progress.
Of the old settlers who came to this county about the same period as Mr. Goode's first residence here, some are still living in the county in the enjoy­ment of the fortunes they found in the early times, "having reaped a hundred fold;” others have long since passed away, while others have gone further west and are still pioneers, but wherever they may be and whatever fate betide them, it is but truth to say that they were excellent men as a class and have left a deep and enduring impression upon the county and state. They built better than they knew. They were of course men of activity and energy or they would never have decided to face the trials of pioneer life. Almost all were in limited financial circumstances but industry and thrift have left few of them so. The secret of their success is largely due to the fact that they lived within their means, however limited, never allowing their expenses to increase beyond their incomes but saving something year after year until prosperity crowned their efforts. Such has been the career of Mr. Goode. His memory bears the impress of many of the events and experiences which framed the early history of the county and throughout the period of his residence here he has labored consecutively and earnestly to promote the devel­opment and advance the upbuilding of this part of the state. The story of pioneer life is certainly familiar to him. He can remember when the broad prairies were starred with millions of flowers in June, while in December they were one unbroken, glittering sheet of snow and ice. Today there is hardly an uncultivated acre in the county and where formerly was heard the howling of the wolves at night now can be heard the lowing of the cattle and other familiar farmyard sounds that indicate a progressive civilization, promoted through the efforts of the pioneer.
Mr. Goode has borne his full share in the work of development here and has lived to enjoy the benefits of his labors in an honorable retirement and well earned ease. He has valuable farming property and banking interests and only gives supervision to his business affairs without active participation in management. His life has indeed been well spent and he enjoys in fullest measure the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been associated. He has now traveled far on life's journey, having passed his eighty-first mile­stone, but so honorable has he been in his purpose and so active in his career that he can look back over the past without regret, knowing that the unqualified respect of his fellowmen is justly merited.