COL. BENJAMIN GOODMAN AND FAMILY, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 27 May 2001 ***************************************************************** COL. BENJAMIN GOODMAN AND FAMILY "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter XIX - Pages 106-108 Col. Benjamin Goodman removed to Tyler from South Carolina and practiced law up to his death, which occurred in 1866. The state of Tennessee was the land of his birth. He owned a large plantation sixteen miles south of Tyler; was one of the largest slave owners in Smith county before the war. Col. Goodman's descendants have and do now occupy prominent positions politically, professionally and socially in Texas. They have wielded a good influence in the walks of life, and possessed those aimable virtues that constitute womanhood in its greatness. Col. Goodman was a man of sterling worth, a fine lawyer and a man who fought the battles of life with a determination, and made it a success. These two excellent people were the parents of so many prominent people in Texas who have made history for themselves and their state. Hon. Sawnie Robertson who died in the city of Dallas several years ago was a grandson of Col. Goodman. He was one of the brightest lawyers in the state; an associate justice of the supreme court of Texas, delivering while on the bench many opinions that are quoted as authority for the lawyer of today. He resigned the judgeship to resume a big practice when he died in middle life, while a bright future awaited him in the profession he was an ornament too. "Death loves a shining mark." Hon. Horace Chilton, now the Senior United States Senator from Texas, is another grandson of this branch of the Goodman family, and while yet a young man, has made a national reputation as a statesman of a great ability---has the promise of many years to add luster to his already made honorable reputation. The culminating point of reputation for sagacity in statesmanship has not yet been reached by this talented young man. Judge Brock Robertson, of this city, is a lawyer of ability and enjoy's a lucrative practice. Reb Robertson, a lawyer of good ability and a young man of much promise. Roy, the youngest brother, is devoting his life to that of a farmer and stock-raiser. The talent in this branch of the Goodman family was not confined to the boys alone, for some of the brightest minded women that ever graced the best circles of Tyler society, were: Mrs. John C. Robertson, Mrs. Geo. W. Chilton, Mrs. Ed W. Smith, Mrs. Morris Brown, and Mrs. L. A. Henry. Lewis Goodman, a genial noble fellow, died early in life--an associate of the writer, when boys. A volume could be written of his good deeds and his excellent qualities of his young manhood. Hamilton Goodman was killed during the war before reaching manhood. He was a "chip off the old block," a good soldier boy, who gave his young life for his beloved Southland.