Mingo County, West Virginia Biography of SPOTSWOOD H. GOODLOE This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: ********************************************** ***The submitter does not have a connection*** ********to the subject of this sketch.******** ********************************************** This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 581-582 Mingo SPOTSWOOD H. GOODLOE. Prominent among those who have contributed to the business growth and development of Mingo County is Spotswood H. Goodloe of Williamson. As a business man, in scope of comprehension, in breadth of action and energy of administration, he ranks with the lead- ers of his day and community. During a career that is just attaining its fullest fruition he has been identified with a number of enterprises, all of which have been benefited by his natural ability, irresistible energy and versatility of thought and action. Mr. Goodloe was born February 1, 1880, at Greenfield, Virginia, a son of A. M. and Jennie R. (Page) Goodloe, natives of Virginia. He belongs to an old Virginia family and is of Scotch and English descent. A. M. Goodloe in early life was engaged in railroad contracting, and built a part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, but later turned his attention to fanning, in which he spent his last years. During the war between the states he fought in the ranks of the Confederate army and established a splendid record for bravery and faithful performance of duty. A great friend of education, he interested himself actively in spread- ing the influence of the public school system, and all worthy religious and charitable movements likewise received his support. In civic affairs he was constructive, and in every way he was a valuable man in the life of his community. Spotswood H. Goodloe attended the graded and high schools at Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and upon the completion of his studies, when he was sixteen years of age, secured employment in the general store of an uncle, T. B. Goodloe, at Afton, Virginia. He remained with his uncle for two years and then went to Red Jacket, West Virginia, to work for the old Logan Coal Company, now known as the Red Jacket Consolidated Coal Company. He remained with this concern for about six years at the different points where operations were being carried on, and for two and one-half years was clerk and assistant store manager at Red Jacket and later at Thacker. He next joined the Roanoke Coal and Coke Company, as purchasing agent, a position which he filled for about five years, and in 1903 joined the Vulcan Coal Company as purchasing agent, remaining with that concern until 1909. In that year he came to Williamson, West Virginia, to look after some interests which he had at this point. During the years he had been with the Vulcan Coal Company he had embarked in the men's furnishing goods and clothing business at Williamson, placing his brother in charge, and on locating at Williamson he added to his interests by establishing himself in the real estate business, acquiring coal properties and selling them. He was thus engaged until 1916, when he entered the coal busi- ness and organized the Wilhelmina Coal Company and the East Williamson Land Company. About this time he with his brother, H. A. Goodloe, of Williamson, West Virginia, sold a large tract of land, about 5,000 acres, in Kentucky, a transaction that proved very profitable. In 1919 he was the organizer of the Pond Creek By-Product Coal Company, which was later sold to the Norfolk & Western Railway Company, and in 1920 he organized the Knox Creek Coal Company, which he still controls with its accompanying 1,800 acres of coal lands. Mr. Goodloe was also the organ- izer in 1918 of the Kirkland Coal Company in Mingo County. In December, 1921, he effected the consolidation of the Wilhelmina Coal Company and the East Williamson Land Company, which took the new name of Wilhelmina Collieries Company. In 1920 he purchased the West Virginia By- products Company, and in the same year sold the same company to some Williamson business men. He also organ- ized the Leckieville Land Company, a holding company. At the present time Mr. Goodloe is president of the West Virginia By-Products Company, the Knox Creek Coal Company, the Kirkland Coal Company, and is secretary and treasurer of the Wilhelmina Collieries Company. His record as a business man has been one which reflects the greatest credit upon his integrity and business ideals, for the huge interests that he controls have all been fostered and developed in a strictly legitimate way and have attained their prosperity under his capable and entirely above-board direction. Mr. Goodloe is a Presbyterian in his religious faith and a supporter of worthy church movements. Like- wise he takes an active part in the civic life of his com- munity, and his name has been identified with a number of progressive and constructive enterprises. As a fraternalist he is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Knight Templar, and as a clubman belongs to the Kiwanis and Old Colony clubs. In 1914, at Roanoke, Virginia, Mr. Goodloe was united in marriage with Miss Willie Charlton Goodykoontz, daugh- ter of William and Lucinda (Woolwine) Goodykoontz, na- tives of Virginia and prominent agricultural people, and sister of Hon. William Goodykoontz, member of Congress from this district. Mr. and Mrs. Goodloe are the parents of one son, William Spotswood, who was born in 1920.