The James, John and Frank M. Goodson Families

Facts provided by Mrs. Cathryn White Davis

The Goodson name is one long associated with Jacksonville and Cherokee County, the families having come from Georgia and being among the first to settle in the Jacksonville vicinity. There are three distinct groups, including the James Goodson family, the John Good-son family and the Frank M. Goodson family. It is agreed all are related, it being believed the three were cousins.

James Goodson married a Priestly girl and there were nine children born to this union. They were Columbus, R. C. (Coke), Sam D., Viola (Mrs. John Summers), Lena (Mrs. Harvey McKee), Bonnie (Mrs. Morris Starkey), Jim, William and Bess (Mrs. Joe Dixon).

John Goodson and his wife, Matilda, were parents of seven children, who were Gillum, W. M. (Will), J. W. (Jake), John L., Mattie (Mrs. J. C. Sharp), Ludie (Mrs. W. H. Haws) and Lavada (Mrs. J. S. Haws). Watt Goodson, John's bachelor brother, lived with this family.

Frank M. Goodson was married to Sally Whittle and they were parents of five children, including Edward Milton, Willie, Annie L. (Mrs. John U. Smith), Ida (Mrs. Rob Bounds) and Joseph Walter. Frank Goodson died at an early age due to injuries received in the Civil War and maltreatment endured as a prisoner during that conflict. Consequently, his children were reared by a step-father, William Henry Roberts. Edward Milton married Flee-ta Cole, lived in Rusk, and reared six girls and six boys. He was the first Cherokee County agent, and also served as a county commissioner. Joe married Fleeta's sister, Nell Cole. He was a successful farmer in the Turney area. Later, he sold his farm, moved to Jacksonville and was employed as yard foreman at Slover-Newton Box Factory (now Newton-Shank Manufacturing Co.). His death was the result of an accident at the factory. He and his wife reared five children, including Joseph Earl, Leona Lucille (Mrs. Robert Willis White), Ernest Guinn, Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Robert J. Underhill) and Ennis Edward.

In addition to their own children, the Frank Goodson family took in several boys who needed homes. Among them were Bill McDow and Bill Strait.

John Goodson was instrumental in development of the tomato industry. He lived between Jacksonville and Craft and farmed until his retirement, when he moved to a home on South Jackson Street. While farming, he organized farmers, along with Joe Goodson, to supply and ship tomatoes.

Joe Goodson's daughter, Lucille (Mrs. R. W. White), was an employee of Western Union Telegraph Company, along with her husband, Bob, at a time when the tomato industry was at its height, Western Union a vital part.

Around 1900, Sam D. Goodson bought a hardware store from W. C. (Cal) Bolton, having been an employee of the store, which was located at the corner of Commerce and Bolton streets. Cal Bolton had sold the hardware business to Sam D. Goodson, husband of his daughter, Ottis, to help open First National Bank. Listed as stockholders on a statement of the bank dated January 22, 1904, were J. P. Goodson, Sam D. Goodson, W. H. Goodson and John Goodson.

Sam D. Goodson also had other business interests here, including the Jacksonville Variety Store, and an interest with Will Tucker, Cale Todd and M. H. Fite in feed and a hardware store known as Kimbro-Tucker. In 1924, these men hired Wayne Goodson (Will's son), who was newly-graduated from Baylor University, to manage the hardware business. After he took over, the business grew and by 1926, after Wayne had married Willie Tom Foscue in 1925, he bought an interest in the store. Later, he became owner and operated the business as Cherokee Hardware until his death in 1970. His family owns and operates the business.

Many Goodsons still live here.