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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lonoke County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John Claborne Goodrum, Sr. The people of Northern Scotland and England have gained a world-wide reputation and have become famous for their sterling integrity and determination of purpose. Among those who long ago sought homes in the new world was a representative of those hardy Northern people who, settling in America, has transmitted to his descendants (the present members of the Goodrum family) all the true traits of character of the Scotch-English race. George Goodrum was born in Virginia, and grew to manhood in the Old Dominion, where he married Lucy H. Cocke, a native of the same State. Soon after their marriage they moved to Alabama, and there resided until their death. One of the children born to them was John C. Goodrum, the subject of this brief sketch. He was very young at the time of his parents’ death, and in 1852, when only sixteen years old, came to Arkansas in company with his brother, William Goodrum, a leading citizen of this county, and who held during his lifetime, many positions of trust and honor. The brothers located in that part of Lonoke now known as Goodrum Township. The country at that time was an unbroken wilderness, no ax had leveled the giant trees of the crowded groves; wild beasts inhabited the entire region, and these primitive freeholders eyed with dismay this encroachment upon their native wilds by hardy white men who dared brave the dangers and suffered the privations incident to a pioneer life, in order to build up for themselves a home. Amidst such scenes as these John C. Goodrum grew to manhood, and it was in these early struggles that he laid the foundation for the resolute and sterling integrity that has attended his subsequent life. His education was limited as the facilities for schooling were far from satisfactory at that period. Indeed he was considered fortunate who had the opportunity of attending the district school for a few months after the busy season was past, and many a night did young Goodrum spend pouring over his spelling book by the light of a burning pine knot. He began as a farmer, first renting land that he worked, but by proper application of business principles, gained from necessity in early days, and by his own personal energy he has accumulated a bountiful supply of this world’s goods, his possessions in real estate alone including over 5,000 acres. In 1861 Mr. Goodrum enlisted in a company raised by his brother at Brownsville, and was soon after the enlistment appointed quartermaster. The company became a part of Pleasant’s regiment, but at the battle of Prairie Grove Gen. Pleasant was killed, and the command was afterward known as Bell’s regiment. In 1861 Mr. Goodrum was commissioned captain and served until the close of the war, being mustered out in May, 1865, at Marshall, Tex. In 1870 he located in Lonoke, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for eleven years, and in 1886 established the livery business, which he is still conducting. He has always taken an active interest in matters pertaining to the advancement and welfare of the country, and has held many positions of trust and honor. He has served both as mayor and alderman in the town of Lonoke, and has for years been an active member of the board of public education. He is Past Master of Lonoke Lodge No. 51, A. F. & A. M., and for years was chairman of the county Democratic committee. He has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Sarah Adams, a native of Tennessee, who came with her parents to Arkansas in 1852. Their marriage was consummated in 1859, the relation being broken by Mrs. Goodrum’s death in 1882. She left four sons and three daughters. In 1884 Mr. Goodrum was united in marriage with Mrs. Ida Staggs, and to them has been born one child, a daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrum are esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, enjoying the friendship of all. He is in every sense of the term a self-made man, and his success in life is a striking illustration of what may be achieved by industry, economy and determined purpose, furnishing a wholesome example to the rising generation.

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This family biography is one of 143 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lonoke County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Lonoke County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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