GOODLETT BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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GOODLETT, George Washington - b: 1830 Nashville, TN
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 575
residence: Windsor Twp

George Washington Goodlett, an enterprising citizen of this vicinity was born 
February 20, 1830, in Nashville, Tennessee. His father, Adam Gibb Goodlett, a 
physician, surgeon and planter, was born in 1782, in Orange County. Virginia. We 
here give his obituary notice as taken from a Nashville paper: "Died, at his farm 
in Rutherford County, Tennessee, on the 17th inst., in the sixty-ninth year of his 
age, of affection of the heart, Dr. Adam Gibb Goodlett formerly, and for over 
thirty years, a successful physician of this city. He was a native of Virginia, born 
in 1782, in Orange County, but received his education in Lexington, Kentucky. He 
was for more than forty years engaged actively in the duties of his profession, 
and was for nine years a surgeon in the United States army, serving a part of the 
time in the Fourth but chiefly in the Seventh Regiment of Infantry. His 
commission bore date February 10, 1812. He was present and actively employed 
during the battle of New Orleans. Although differing in political opinions with 
General Jackson, their frequent correspondence evinces sincere attachment to 
each other personally. Dr. Goodlett was at one time in the regiment with 
President Taylor and General Jessup. He enjoyed the warm friendship of Generals 
Wilkinson and Gaines while they lived. During a brief visit to Washington last 
year his general health was much improved by a renewed intercourse with his old 
brother officers, to whom he felt much attached. For General Jessup, in 
particular, he retained, to the last, sentiments or regard. Previous to the last 
war with Great Britain, he was offered a commission in the line, but declined it, 
at the request of General Wilkinson, who persuaded him that there would be no 
war. When the army was reduced at the termination of the war, he was the only 
surgeon that was retained in the southern division of the army. He soon after 
bore dispatches from the government to our ministers in England and France, and 
spent sometime in visiting the hospitals of Europe. He retired from the army and 
settled in this city (Nashville) in 1817 or 1818. He seemed to have a presentment 
of dying and for several weeks talked calmly and seemed fearless in the 
contemplation of death, as a christian, confident of the power and willingness of 
Almighty God to save. He was for thirty years a member of the Presbyterian 
Church of this city, and although he died as he most wished, suddenly and without 
pain, he leaves his friends full of assurance in his inheritance of a crown of 
eternal life. He left an affectionate wife who had stood by him in prosperity and 
adversity, with all that devotion of which woman alone is capable, and also five 
sons to mourn his loss. November 26, 1818, he married Miss Charlotte Phanuel 
Campbell, who was born in 1790, in Virginia. By this union there were six 
children, five sons and one daughter, five of whom are still living. The daughter 
died in infancy." In his youth George W. Goodlett acquired a good English 
education, and subsequently commenced the study of law (intending to make the 
law his profession) in Nashville, Tennessee, his preceptor being John A. Goodlett, 
his brother and guardian. This he continued for three 3 years at Nashville, when 
he went with his brother to St. Louis, Missouri. He was admitted to the bar at the 
age of twenty-one years, prior to leaving his native state, but resumed his 
studies while in St. Louis for several years, although engaged in practice. In 1854 
he was admitted to partnership, and practiced in connection with his brother 
until the commencement of the civil war. At its opening in 1861 he enlisted as a 
private under General F. M. Cockrell with whom he remained until after the battle 
of Lexington, Missouri. He was then sent on important business by General 
Sterling Price to General Sidney Johnson, then at Columbus, Kentucky, and from 
there went to Memphis, Tennessee, and joined General D. M. Frost's brigade, as 
major. He returned to Springfield, Missouri, and after the battle of Pea Ridge the 
whole command went to Corinth, Mississippi. He was in the battle of 
Farmersville, near Corinth, and after the retreat of the army to Tupelo, 
Mississippi, he visited Richmond, Virginia, with General Price, when he received 
a commission as colonel. Going to Missouri he raised a company known as Colonel 
G. W. Goodlett's Regiment, and joined General William Wheeler's command in 
Northern Mississippi. He was engaged as a scouting officer during the remainder 
of the war, until the final surrender in Georgia near Rome. He was tendered the 
office of state treasurer in 1861, while at Memphis, Tennessee, by Governor 
Clayborne F. Jackson, but declined to accept, choosing to fight at the head of his 
command. We here give his resignation as sent to General D. M. Frost, (tendered on 
account of an insult offered him by that general at Sand Hill Prairie, Arkansas.) 
"Although I now resign my commission, I do not yet resign the cause of liberty. 
My glittering sword shall yet carve my way to future glory, which shall mark my 
general's neglect, and when this frail body shall put on its last habiliments, its 
spirit shall wing its way to yon region above, in passing the pale-faced moon, I'll 
hang my hat on brilliant Mars, and hail each superlative star; and when I arrive at 
the portals of Heaven's high chancery, I'll demand of the attending angel to usher 
me into the presence of my superior, General Washington." Mr. Goodlett was 
married December 26, 1865, to Miss Ada E. Cook, originally of Covington, 
Kentucky, and widow of A. B. Cook, an attorney of Springfield, but born in Fort 
Defiance, Ohio. They have two children: Mark P. and Stella E., the former attending 
school at Windsor, and the latter at St. Louis. Mr. G. commenced business at the 
close of the war under adverse circumstances, but with a determination to 
succeed. Purchasing property in St. Louis, he soon sold it at a large advance, and 
for eight years thereafter was occupied in conducting a lucrative real estate 
business. He then took a half interest in a steam boat running in behalf of the 
Southern trade, but after a year turned his attention to his farm in Windsor 
Township, Henry County, which he had purchased in 1866. He now has a fine farm 
of nearly 500 acres of land, to which he has given his supervision since 1876, 
and upon the place are good buildings. He also raises fine stock to some extent. 
His house his well furnished, and his library is one of the best to be found in the 
county. In his manner he is modest and unassuming, and very hospitable. He is 
much interested in educational affairs, and has frequently been solicited to 
become a candidate for official honors, but has as often declined with the 
exception of school offices. He is a member of the A. L. H. Grand Council, No. 434, 
Windsor, of which he is commander. Religiously he is a Unitarian, and politically 
a Democrat. Both the families of Campbell's and Godless trace their genealogy to 
the nobility.

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