My Genealogy Hound

R. P. Goodall, sheriff of Laclede County, Mo., was born in Orleans County, Vt., December 1, 1838, and is the son of Richard R. and Ruth (Lymon) Goodall, natives of New Hampshire, who immigrated to Vermont at quite an early date. The paternal grandfather was drowned in the Connecticut River while rafting lumber. Richard P. Goodall was a farmer by occupation, is still living, and is a resident of Orleans County, Vt. He is quite a prominent man there, having represented his county two successive terms in the Legislature. He is the father of five children, only two now living: R. P. and Helen. The latter resides at Denver, Col. R. P. Goodall, subject of this sketch, assisted his father on the farm in Vermont until about twenty years of age, and received a good education. At this time he learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed in Vermont. In July, 1861, he was mustered into Company D, Third Vermont Volunteer Infantry, entering the service as a private, and was afterward promoted to the rank of second lieutenant in Company G, at Brandy Station, Va., holding this position until the close of the war. He was engaged in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, Antietam, battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court house and Salem. He was wounded in the left hand by a gunshot at the Wilderness, but went with his company to Spottsylvania. He was also wounded in the left leg at Salem, and was taken to a hospital, where he remained for about six weeks. He was mustered out at Burlington in 1864, and then returned to Vermont, where he remained until 1867, when he came to Arlington, Mo. He here worked at his trade until 1869, when he came to Lebanon, and there built one of the first frame houses in New Lebanon, for a lady by the name of Hanford. He continued his trade until 1874, when he was elected sheriff, and re-elected in 1876. Two years later he was defeated by a Greenbacker for the office of collector, and in 1880 he was re-elected sheriff. In 1882 he was elected county collector, and in 1886 he was re-elected to the office of sheriff. He was married November 6, 1879, to Miss Mary Henson, a native of Missouri, and to them has been born one child, R. P., Jr. Mr. Goodall is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery; also G. A. R., and is a stanch Democrat in his political opinions.