My Genealogy Hound

Alexander Gooding was born July 4, 1822, in Cocke County, Tenn., near Newport, and is a son of James and Elizabeth Gooding, natives of South Carolina. Of their five children our subject is the only one living. Those deceased are William, Francis, Andrew J. and Martin. Mr. Gooding immigrated to Tennessee shortly after his marriage, and there died in 1823. The mother died in Crawford County in 1859, advanced in years. Alexander, when young, was left to care for his mother, and during his youth worked upon a farm, receiving a common-school education. When twenty-two years old he came to Crawford County, landing in Van Buren in 1844, $6 in debt. The first year he worked upon a farm, and then rented land for about six years. In 1844 he bought land near Dripping Springs, and in 1862 went to Texas. There he did frontier duty in the Confederate States army, under Capt. Toddie, for a few years, or till the surrender of Victoria Peak, in Texas. He once drove a government team as far as San Antonio, but participated in but one battle, Brushy Creek, Montague Co., Texas. In 1867 he left Denton County, Texas, and located upon his present place in Crawford County. He then bought 180 acres of land, to which he has added until he now owns 340 acres; 125 he has cultivated and devotes to farming and stock raising. January 9, 1851, he married Martha E. Collins, daughter of Dr. Dixon P. and Melvina (Cotterel) Collins, and a native of Alabama. To them eight children have been born, five of whom are living: James F., Alexander, Alice, Albert and Abbie. Those deceased are John D., Lee and an infant. Alice is now the wife of Richard J. Miller, of this county. Mr. Gooding, with four other citizens, founded a school at South Grove, paying the expenses thereof themselves, thus illustrating the interest he takes in educational matters. He is a Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace. He is a Mason, and himself and wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.