John (bio) GOODE, DR

May 29, 1838 - April 29, 1905

Dr. John Goode is a merchant as well as a medical practitioner at Magnolia, Ark., but is especially well known in the former capacity, and his skill and talent have been exercised in many homes throughout the county. His birth occurred in Thomaston, Upson County, Ga., in 1838, he being the second of seven children born to Thomas W. and Amanda V. (Minor) Goode, native Virginians. The father was a well-known and successful attorney of Georgia, and practiced in nearly, if not quite all the courts of the State. He was a member of the State Legislature for many years, both as a Representative and Senator. His death, which occurred in 1859 (he at that time being fifty-nine years of age) was regretted by all who knew him. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and his wife, whose death occurred in 1857, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and an earnest Christian. The following are the members of their family now living: C. T. (who was a colonel during the late war, in the Tenth Confederate Infantry, took a prominent part in the engagements in the East during the war, and was twice wounded, being shot through the right thigh and in the breast. He also had two horses shot from under him. He served two years in the Army of Virginia as major, then returned home and raised a regiment, of which he was made colonel, which was known as the Tenth Confederate Regiment, and which became a part of Gen. Johnson’s army. He participated in many hard-fought battles, and after the war came home and began the practice of law, in partnership with Gen. Warren, of Perry, Ga. He was one of the most prominent men of the State, and was one of the framers of the present constitution of that State. He has represented Sumter County, Ga., in the State Legislature, and at the time of his death, in 1874, at the age of thirty-eight or thirty-nine years, he was a candidate for Congress. He was known as the “Silver-tongued Orator of Georgia,” an appellation which was very appropriate), the next in order of birth was the subject of this sketch, and following him came Dr. James G. (who died when quite young, having been local editor of the Macon Telegraph. He was also connected with other papers, but never practiced his profession), Julia G. (is the wife of Col. G. P. Smoote, of Prescott, Ark.), Col. S. R. (deceased, was a resident of Hot Springs, Ark.), B. W. (is a druggist of that place), and Bessie (is the wife of H. C. Davis of that place). Dr. John Goode obtained a fair knowledge of books in his native town, and at the age of eighteen years he entered the office of Dr. Harwell of that place, and began his medical studies under his directions. At the end of one year he had acquired a sufficient knowledge of this calling to enter the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Penn. He then attended the Medical University of New York, at New York City, and graduated from the same the following year; then returned to his native city, and opened an office, and was there in active practice at the beginning of the war. He immediately entered the Confederate service as assistant surgeon of the Thirty-second Georgia Infantry, a position he retained for six months, when he was called home by the death of his father, who had made him executor of his large estate. After some time he and Col. E. A. Shivey raised a company of infantry, of which he was chosen first lieutenant, it being attached to Col. Lofton’s regiment of the Army of the Tennessee. At the end of six months he was called before the Medical Board at Macon, Miss., and was commissioned a surgeon of the Confederate army, and was assigned to duty in the Newsom and Frank Ramsey Hospitals, being there nearly all the latter portion of the war. He was at Forsythe, Ga., at the time of the surrender, and after his return home he resumed the practice of his calling, moving a short time later to Southwest Georgia, near Americus, where he practiced his profession for two years. Since 1869 he has resided in the State of Arkansas, and nearly all this time having been a resident of Magnolia. He has met with good success in the practice of his profession, did the largest practice of any physician in the county, and until his retirement from an active practice, and in addition to possessing a thorough knowledge of his calling, he is exceptionally well informed on all subjects. Since 1880 he has only done a city and office practice, which keeps him fully occupied, and with the exception of two men he is the oldest medical practitioner in the city. He and his son, C. T., conduct a large drug and dry goods establishment, and are doing a very profitable business. The Doctor is one of the medical examiners of the county, and for the past six years has been one of the school trustees. He was married in 1858 in Thomaston, Ga., to Miss Lizzie Caven, a daughter of Traver Caven, of Augusta, Ga. To Dr. and Mrs. Goode the following children have been born: C. T., Amanda L. (wife of A. T. Dixon, of the Magnolia Hotel), W. C., Annie D., Mattie C, Dave D. and Julia L. Two children died in infancy. Dr. Goode is the superintendent of the Methodist Sabbath-school, which has an enrolled membership of 200, and an almost regular attendance of 150. He has been a member of this church for twenty-one years, his wife, daughters and sons being also members. Socially, the Doctor is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Columbia Lodge No. 82. He is medical examiner for the Mutual Life Insurance Company, also for the Equitable Life Insurance and the Knights of Pythias, and has a commission from each of these companies. His eldest son, Col. Charles T. Goode, is now the proprietor of the Magnolia Hotel, and is an universal favorite with all traveling men who visit this town. He has few equals and no superiors as a hotel-keeper, and there is no more popular man in the county than Charlie Goode. (Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas - Goodspeed Publishing Company - 1890)

Contributed on 11/15/13 by debbraszymanski
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