My Genealogy Hound

George M. Goodnight, senior member of the firm of Goodnight & Co., general merchants of Cassville, Mo., was born in Greene County, Mo., on September 1, 1845, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Stockton) Goodnight [see sketch of John Goodnight]. When but ten years of age he came with his parents to Barry County, where he grew to manhood on their farm and secured his education in the common schools. Being a Union man, in 1861 he enlisted in the Federal army, joining Company F, Twenty-fourth Regiment of Missouri Volunteers, with which he served nearly two years, being discharged for disability in 1863. In July of 1864 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth McCoy, a daughter of James McCoy. She was born in Giles County, Tenn., in 1843, and came to Barry County in 1856. They have reared four children to maturity, viz.: Mary J., wife of Louis Warf; Cynthia I., wife of C. D. Manley; Anderson L., who died on May 27, 1888, aged nearly eighteen years, and Alta. Anderson L. was a graduate of Gem City Business College of Quincy, Ill. Mr. Goodnight continued farming and dealing in stock until 1882 on a farm of 176 acres in King’s Prairie Township, when he was elected sheriff of the county and removed to Cassville. In 1884 he was re-elected to the same post, thus forcibly illustrating his fitness for the position. He is a Republican in politics, and the county has a Democratic majority of about 150. In July, 1887, he purchased an interest in a general store with J. M. Black and C. W. Carter, after which the firm was known as Goodnight, Black & Co., until January 1, 1888, when Mr. Goodnight and Mr. Carter bought Mr. Black’s interest and formed the present firm. Mr. Goodnight is a man of excellent business capacity, and is highly esteemed. He is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F. He and wife are consistent members of the Protestant Methodist Church.