Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Isaac Goodnight

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Descendants of Isaac Goodnight

Generation No. 1

1. Isaac³ Goodnight (Hans (John) Michael², Unknown¹) was born 01 January 1782 in Harlan Station near Harrodsburg, Mercer Co., Kentucky ¹, and died 14 October 1869 in Three Forks, Warren Co., Kentucky ². He married (1) Elizabeth McMurry 25 August 1805 in Lincoln Co., Kentucky ³, daughter of Thomas McMurry and Catherine Robinson. She was born 23 April 1787 in Lincoly Co., Kentucky³, and died 29 September 1827 in Warren Co., Kentucky³. He married (2) Mary Ground 24 July 1828 in Warren Co., Kentucky ⁴, daughter of Robert Ground and Rhoda Long. She was born 29 May 1800 in Mercer Co., Kentucky ⁵, and died 28 November 1847 in Three Forks, Warren Co., Kentucky⁵. He married (3) Rhoda (Godbury) Gadberry 07 May 1848 in Barren Co., Kentucky ⁶. She was born 10 March 1774 in Virginia ?⁷, and died 09 April 1860 in Three Forks, Warren Co., Kentucky⁷. He married (4) Frankie Dickerson 04 September 1862 in Warren Co., Kentucky⁷. She was born 27 February 1819 ⁸, and died 28 April 1900⁸.

Notes for Isaac Goodnight:
During the year that Isaac Goodnight was born, 1782, Thomas Grenville was sent from London to Paris to open American Revolution peace talks with Benjamin Franklin. Preliminaries were accepted by Great Britain and America. Joseph Priestley wrote "A History of the Corruptions of Christianity", James Watt invented the double-acting rotary steam engine, and the Bank of North America was established in Philadelphia.
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Wives were (1) Elizabeth McMurray, (2) Mary Ground, (3) Rhoda Godbury, (4) Frankie Dickerson. Other information furnished by the book "PLYMOUTH ROCK TO THE PACIFIC" , Dan Yarbrough, descended through Jacob Goodnight, and the Warren Co., census 1810-1870. Some information from the Kentucky Register, Vol. 3, 1935.

Isaac, the posthumous son, is listed in a tax list for Lincoln Co., in 1799. After marrying in 1805, he migrated soon thereafter to Allen Co., in southern Kentucky, where he spent the remainder of his life. He married 4 times, 15 children were born to him and many of his descendants lived in the vicinity of Smith's Grove.

In the 1810 Warren Co., census it shows 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 female under 10.

According to a letter written by S. W. Goodnight to Porter and Thomas Goodnight on Dec. 24, 1883 from Ashmore, Ill. ," Isaac lived about 15 miles above Bowling Green on big Barren river. Raised a large and respectful family of both sons and daughters and lived to a great age."
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SOURCE: Donald E. Collins, 5400 W. Hustis St., Apt. E, Milwaukee, WI 53223

Picture of Isaac Goodnight and of the old homestead, newspaper articles, and write-up about family homestead furnished by Donald Collins.

The Isaac Goodnight homestead was probably one of the oldest homes in Warren County, if not the oldest. It was quite a mansion for its day, a two story structure with eighteen inch thick walls, two recessed panelled front doors and large chimneys at each end. The inside was built to accommodate boys and girly and keep them separated as there is a closed stairway on each side and no connecting door on the second floor. The massive fireplaces were still there and the chair rails remained through the years, as well as the panelling under the staircases.

This house burned about 1976. It was replaced with another house. Don Collins saw the original house before it burned.

The house was built by Isaac Goodnight, a tanner and farmer by trade and a
large slave owner. He and his slaves make the bricks for the house. His tombstone reveals that he was born in 1782 and tradition in the family is that he was the first white child born in Kentucky. (I believe this has been proven wrong.)

In his youth Isaac Goodnight was bound out to learn the tanner and saddle makers trade, an occupation he continued until his death.

In 1805 he married Elizabeth McMurray, of Mercer County , the daughter of Thomas McMurray, and three years later moved to Warren County and settled on the north side of the Barren River, in an area later called Three Forks. According to Court Records he began buying land in 1815.

Ten children were born to Isaac and Elizabeth McMurry Goodnight. Elizabeth died in 1827 and he married secondly, Mary Gound. She bore him five children. His third wife was Rhoda Gadberry eight years older than her husband. She died in 1860 after twelves years of marriage. Isaac certainly believed that it was not good for a man to live alone so he took unto himself a fourth wife, Frances Dickerson. She was thirty nine years his junior and survived his many, many years.

Isaac's first three wives are buried in the family cemetery across the road from the house, as well as the old pioneer and a number of his descendants and slaves.

One of Isaac Goodnight's most distinguished descendants was the Hon. I. H. Goodnight of Franklin, Kentucky. He was born in 1849 and attended Cumberland University, where he studied law. His first venture into politics was a seat in the Kentucky Legislature in 1877. Later he represented the Third Congressional District in Congress. Another descendant was Judge Thomas Goodnight, of Allen County, who inherited the home place on Barren River. He, in turn bequeathed it to his son Isaac Henry Goodnight, whose daughter Mary married J. E. Moulder, The moulders lived in the house making the fourth generation to reside there. The Moulders had the original title to the property written on Sheepskin and signed by Patrick Henry who was at that time the Governor of Virginia. In 1950 the land came into the possession of Mr. & Mrs. B. M. Smith, who cherished the tradition of the house.
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SOURCE: The Louisville Times Newspaper, Sep. 5, 1903 furnished by D. Collins.

When the Indians killed Isaac's father, Michael Goodnight, Elizabeth, his mother, was expecting him. They had returned to NC to get their household effects. They were a part of a caravan composed of other pioneer families who were guarded by 30 armed men. No serious mishap befell the train until the train was within half a day's journey of the fort at Harlans Station. All seemed secure, but at midnight, Sep. 1, 1781 the fearful cry of the savage was heard followed by gun short, screams and confusion. Michael Goodnight was killed in the first onslaught and his son, John was severely wounded, but he succeeded to make his escape. Mrs. Goodnight, who was in a delicate condition at the time, fled into the dark forest. Many of the emigrants were massacred, but a few escaped to the fort where the alarm was given. A party was made up to search for Mrs. Goodnight and she was found two days later in the woods lying prostrate upon the ground in a semi-conscious state, her face covered with a blanket. She was taken to the fort and four months later, Jan 1, 1782, Isaac Goodnight was born. A curious circumstance, preserved in the family traditions, is that from his birth until the day of his death, Isaac could never go to sleep without a cover over his face.

The youth of Isaac Goodnight was spent at the fort with his mother and he was known as one of the strongest young men and best Indian scout and fighter in the settlement.
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Source: Nancy Sterling Tyler & Donald E. Collins

The Goodnight family cemetery is located on the Three Forks Rd. #1089 off Coles Bend Rd. on the farm of B. M. Smith.
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Isaac Goodnight was a member of the Masonic Lodge #1822 in Warren Co., Kentucky.
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Source furnished by Margaret R. Bates:

The Longhunter, Vol. XIX, Issue 4, pg. 11-12
Isaac Goodnight

(tells traditional story of death near Harlan Station)
Birth of Issac Goodnight 1 Jan 1782 "on the first hour."
Marriage in 1808 to Elizabeth McMurry Move to Warren County, near Three Forks, north of Barren River (KY) after marriage; living on large tract of land secured "through a grant signed by Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia."
Became member of old Bays Fork Baptist Church. When that church was divided, he went with the group that formed the Rocky Springs Baptist Church.
"Isaac Goodnight was the 22nd child of his father, and he was father of 21 children. He passed away on October 13, 1869 at the age of '87 years, 9 months, 12 days and 3 hours."

The family home of Isaac Goodnight in Three Forks, Warren County, Kentucky was in the early 1930s shown as a two-story brick home with chimneys on each end of the house. Isaac is said to have made each brick by hand that went to build this home. A small covered porch adorned the front, and a root cellar was at one end of the house, also with a fireplace. Other frame buildings were added, one of which is visible in an old photograph of the home. This building appears to be living quarters as well and could possibly attach to the house. The photos were taken in fall or winter. Dried corn stalks are seen standing in the field, right up to the side of the house. The house burned down since the photos were made. Across from the barn lot, on a hill, is the Goodnight family graveyard.

The tall painted monument to Isaac Goodnight is located at the family cemetery at Three Forks.
Three of his wives, Elizabeth McMurray, Mary Ground, and Rodah Gadberry, are also buried there. Isaac's stone lists his birth and death dates, and also says, "Initiated into the Masonic Fraternity in 1822," and "He professed faith in Christ and united with the Baptist Church in 1908."
Near the top of the spire is the Masonic emblem. There are 15 known graves in the cemetery:

Benjamin Neal 28 Aug 1908 - 13 Aug 1836
Mary Neal Wheatley 13 Jun 1813 - 30 Dec 1862
Sarah Gadbury 25 Feb 1776 - 3 Feb 1858
Anna Lawrence 1891 - 1892
Robert Goodnight 22 Sep 1837 - 20 Mar 1838
H. H. Goodnight 21 Apr 1834 - 4 Jan 1895
I. H. Goodnight 5 Feb 1848 - 13 May 1901
Isaac Goodnight 1 Jan 1782 - 14 Oct 1869
Elizabeth Goodnight 23 Apr 1787 - 29 Sep 1827
Mary Goodnight 29 May 1800 - 29 Nov 1848
Rodah Goodnight 10 Mar 1774 - 9 Apr 1860
Emily N. Goodnight 3 Oct 1830 - 8 May 1907
Charles Rector 29 Sep 1833 - 4 Jun 1898
Mary Moulder 12 Sep 1874 - 25 Mar 1904
Myrtle Moulder 2 Jan 1885 - 29 Oct 1908

From History of Mansfield, Texas, 1996, p. 249

Michael Goodnight was a Baptist and a refugee from religious persecution in his native land of Germany. Isaac Goodnight, born 1782 near Harrodsburg, Kentucky, was bound to William Hays at the age of sixteen to learn the saddler's trade at Standford, in Lincoln County, Kentucky. At the age of 21, he became a professor of religion under the preaching of Rev. William Finley.

Notes for Elizabeth McMurry:
Source: Nancy Sterling Tyler, Dallas, TX

Cemetery Location: Goodnight Family cemetery. Located on Three Forks Road #1089 off Coles Bend Rd. on the farm of B. M. Smith.

Notes for Mary Ground:
In the year that Mary Ground was born, 1800, a plot to assassinate Napoleion was discovered in Paris, U. S. federal offices moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D. C., the new capital city, and Thomas Jefferson wins the U. S. presidential election. Goya painted "Portrait of a Woman", William Hershel discovered the existence of infrared solar rays, Eli Whitney made muskets with interchangeable parts and Bill Richmond (1763-1829), a former Negro slave, became one of the first popular boxers.
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Source: Ground Newsletter, Jan. 1985

Mary Ground stayed on the farm of her father until 1828. She was 28 years old when she married Isaac Goodngith who was 46 years old and lived only a short distance from the Ground place. Isaac's wife, Elizabeth McMurray, had passed away leavinag him with 10 known children. Mary died in Three Forks and is buried in the Goodnight Family Cemetery.
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Notes for Rhoda (Godbury) Gadberry:
WFT #1286, Vol. 4 stated that Rhoda married Isaac Goodnight on 7 July 1848. Property was bought in Barren Co., Kentucky in 1822-1828-1837-1845 and sold in 1854 by Rhoda.

The parents of Rhoda (Godbury) Gadberry were Nathaniel Gadberry, 1755-1851 and Margaret Unkown, 1750-?.
Nathaniel owned property in Rowan Co., NC. Listed in 1800 Census of NC, Rowan Co.

The brothers and sisters were:
Thomas Gadberry,ll-married Sarah McKie

Sally Gadberry (Sarah Gadberry, b. Feb. 25, 1776, d. 03 Feb. 1858--Buried in Goodnight Cemetery in Warrren Co., Kentucky at Three Forks)

Anne Martha Gadberry-married Flemming Short

Greene B. Gadberry-married Joanna Loyd

James Gadberry-married Elizabeth Elliott

Nathaniel Gadberry, ll-married Mary Elizabeth Slagle

Children of Isaac Goodnight and Elizabeth McMurry are:

	2	i.	Catherine⁴ Goodnight, born 20 May 1806 in Warren Co., Kentucky ⁹; died Unknown. She married Samuel Thomas Jamison 10 August 1824 in Warren Co, Kentucky ¹⁰; born Unknown; died Unknown.
+	3	ii.	James W. Goodnight, born 26 May 1809 in Warren Co., Kentucky; died 09 January 1839 in Barren Co., Kentucky.
	4	iii.	Abraham Goodnight, born 23 June 1811 in Warren Co., Ky.¹¹; died 11 December 1811 in Warren Co, Ky¹¹.

Notes for Abraham Goodnight:
In the book, "Descendants of William & Mary McMurry, 1750-1986" by Mariyn A. Bone it stated that Abraham died as the result of a fall.

+	5	iv.	Mary (Polly) Goodnight, born 13 June 1813 in Smith Grove, Warren Co, Kentucky; died 31 December 1862 in Warren Co, Kentucky.
+	6	v.	Christina Goodnight, born 15 August 1815 in Smith Grove, Warren Co, Ky; died 1881 in Kentucky.
+	7	vi.	Thomas McMurray Goodnight, born 04 November 1817 in Warren Co, Kentucky; died 08 January 1898 in Gainsville, Allen Co., Kentucky.
+	8	vii.	Elizabeth Goodnight, born 31 January 1820 in Near Bowling Green, Warren Co., Kentucky; died 11 October 1881 in Cedar Hill, Dallas Co. Texas.
+	9	viii.	Sarah B. Goodnight, born 13 February 1822 in Smith Grove, Warren Co, Ky; died 21 May 1882 in Warren or Allen Co., Kentucky.
	10	ix.	Nancy R. Goodnight, born 08 February 1824 in Smith Grove, Warren Co, Ky ¹²; died Unknown. She married John M. Murdock 13 August 1844 in Warren Co, Ky ¹³; born Unknown; died Unknown.

Notes for Nancy R. Goodnight:
Children: Isaac Newton Murdock, b. 1849 in Warren Co., Kentucky.
Sarah E. Murdock, b. 1849 in Warren Co., Kentucky.
Georgia A. Murdock, b. 1851 in Warren Co., Kentucky.
Rachel Belle Murdock, b. 22 March 1853 in Texas, married Daniel Mabry. Mabry is the line that Don Collins is from.

Rachel Ann Goodnight, born 08 December 1825 in Smith Grove, Warren Co, Ky ¹⁴; died Unknown. She married Archie Bedford Unknown; born Unknown in Texas; died Unknown.

Children of Isaac Goodnight and Mary Ground are:

+	12	i.	Martha⁴ Goodnight, born 13 February 1829 in Warren Co., Kentucky; died 08 July 1907 in Three Forks, Warren Co., Ky..
+	13	ii.	Isaac Shelby Goodnight, born 08 June 1830 in Smith Grove , Warren Co., Kentucky; died 09 March 1897 in Mountain Creek, Near Mansfield, Tarrant Co., Texas.
+	14	iii.	Jacob Goodnight, born 17 April 1832 in Smith Grove, Warren Co., Kentucky; died 26 October 1898 in Rio Vista, Johnson Co., Texas.
+	15	iv.	Henry G. Goodnight, born 02 April 1834 in Smith Grove, Warren Co., Kentucky; died 04 January 1895 in Warren Co,. Kentucky.
	16	v.	Robert Goodnight, born 22 September 1837 in Smith Grove, Warren Co., Kentucky ¹⁵; died 29 November 1838 in Warren Co., Kentucky¹⁵.

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