Research on the Goodge Family

Research by William Holmes Bryan done between 1910-1941.

Recent Research by Mr. Payton Bryan .

James, Bryan Jr., met and married one Mary Goodge whose family lived near the Bryan family near Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pa., the marriage having been solemnized on or about the first of August, 1822.

Mary Goodge is known to have had a sister Catherine who married one William Cottom near Uniontown, and to have had a brother John who married one Nancy (family name unknown), also of the Uniontown vicinity. From these unions have spread Bryans, Cottoms, and Goodges throughout many states of the Union, many of whom have distinguished themselves as educators, ministers of the Gospel, (I visited The Bryan Family Church in Dawson, Pa in 1994. It is a Methodist Church.), physicians, lawyers, and in other trades and professions. Read the research on the Cottom Family and the Bryan Family.

The 1880 Census shows Mary Goodge Bryan stated that both her parents were born in Maryland. BUT her sister stated on the same census that her parents were both born in PA. All three siblings, Nancy, Catherine, and John Goodge state that they were born in PA.

Mary Goodge was born May 16, 1803, near Uniontown, Pa., and died February 18, 1889, and is buried beside her husband in the Bryan Cemetery, which formerly was part of the last Bryan farm and homestead. I have heard recently that Mary had another sister who has not been mentioned before. I am unable now to verify the statement. This sister is supposed to have been given the old Family Bible before Mary Bryan died and this Bible is supposed to have been written the usual record of the family, probably some record of her husband's father and family, James Bryan, Sr.

After their marriage in 1822, James and Mary moved on to a farm of some 160 acres, it is stated, near Uniontown, Pa. Some have given the locality as Upper Middleton, Plumsock, or Dunbar. Here James and Mary lived and raised a large family of children. James and Mary were members of the Methodist Church and strict adherents to the faith and they brought their children up to their way of worship thru kindness and example.

After about forty years on this farm, James disposed of it and bought a smaller farm of about 80 acres in Lower Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pa., about two miles from Dawson where he either built a house or built an addition to it and made such other improvements as were necessary to the comforts of home.

(The Bryan Church from a bulletin in 1992 is shown on right.)I have no church history to guide me in saying that James and wife were instrumental in building a new Methodist Church in their neighborhood and that a few acres of the farm were deeded to the Church for ground and a cemetery. James and wife must have been the leading workers in this project, for the Church was dedicated "The Bryan Church" and it is still known as such. Current Address is Bryan U.M. Church, R.D. #1 Box 2304, Dawson, PA 15428, It is the writer's pleasure to state that he has preserved the photographs of the church and graveyard stones of James and Mary, several of their children buried there, and other relatives, and of the last homestead of the Bryans.

It is stated by a grandchild that the mother of the late Vice President Henricks and Grandmother Mary Goodge Bryan were cousins. And by another relative it is stated that Mary Goodge Bryan was a niece of Martha Washington, wife of our first President. Which side of Martha Washington's family is not stated. The encyclopedia of the history of the families mentioned were available to almost every one to consult.

To the union of James and Mary (nee Goodge) Bryan were born the following children in their order of birth: Jane, Maria, Nancy, Elizabeth, John G, Daniel S., James Hamilton, Samuel W., Mary, R. Alsinas, and William.

Recent Research done by Mr. Payton Bryan

Lived in Dunbar, Fayette County PA and /or near Uniontown, Fayette Co. PA

MISC: James Goodge found in 1850 census in Moniteau County MD might be a brother of John and Mary Goodge, but he was born in TN and one daughter was born in AL and the rest were born in MD. Nacyy (/) Goodge found in the 1870 census in the same place in MD may be a sister of John and Mary Goodge, but she was also born in TN and the rest of her family were born in MD. No Goodge surname was found in the 1830, 1840, and 1860 MD index, (1 in the 1860 index) the 1790-1870 TN index. It therefore seems probable that the surname Goodge was probablly an alternate spelling of the previous surname (Gooche?). Mary Goodge's mother was also born in MD, according to her 1880 census. However, further work may be warrented in other states, and in a page-by-page search of neighboring counties in 1860 MD (Moniteau, Morgan and Camden already completed).

Born in Beesontown , now called Uniontown.

Marriage: William Cottom, Jr. Born 18 Nov 1792. Married 6 July 1817. Died 6 October 1875, Lower Tyrone Twp, Fayette, Pa. A sister of William Cottom Jr., Catharine Cottom, married a William Bryan. This William Bryan may have been a brother or cousin of James Bryan, Jr., but I have no record of such a brother or cousin. Burial in Cochran Cemetery

MARRIAGE: By A. Smith, J.P. May have been married near Uniontown, Fayette Co PA
1827/12/20 US MILITARY SURVEY Act or Treaty: April 24, 1820 , John Goodge granted land in ZANESVILLE, OH (same town as VP Hendricks was from) for military service. 78.16 acres.

CENSUS: 1840; OH, Muskingum Co., Jefferson Twp, p258; John Goodge. CENSUS: 1850 OH; Muskingum Co., Jefferson Twp; John Goodge, 49 yrs, Farmer, $6,800 R.E.; born PA, Also Nancy Goodge, 40 years.
CENSUS: 1860; IA, Linn Co., Clinton Twp, Sicely's Grove P.O., John Goodge, 59 years, $6,660 R.E.: born PA. Also Nancy Goodge; 52 years.
CENSUS: 1870; Not in IA Index at HBL.
CENSUS: 1880; no index at HBL

Regiment: 37th Infantry Regiment IA Date Mustered: 24 May 1865 Regiment Type: Infantry Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 0 Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 2 Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 3 Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers Regimental History Thirty-seventh Infantry IOWA (3 years) Thirty-seventh Infantry. -- Col., George W. Kincaid; Lieut.- Col., George R. West; Ma;., Lyman Allen. It was a wonderful expression of loyalty and patriotism that Iowa furnished to the states in the going forth of this regiment, known as the "Graybeard regiment," composed of men who had already sent their sons and grandsons to the war. History furnishes no parallel -- where the fathers of the soldiers, themselves too old to be received as volunteers, buckled on their armor and asked the government to take them into the ranks of the army. They were all above 45 -- some were over 60. In response to this appeal, a special order was issued by the secretary of war, to permit their entering the Federal service, and stipulating that they should serve in performing only guard and garrison duty. The regiment was organized at Camp Strong, Muscatine, and mustered in Dec. 15, 1862. Made up of sturdy, healthy and able-bodied men, the regiment made a fine appearance, and from its unusual history attracted much attention in St. Louis, where it arrived Jan. 1, 1863, and was quartered in Benton barracks. In the following May it was ordered to guard bridges on the Pacific railroad west of St. Louis, with headquarters at Franklin. In July it was sent to Alton, IL, where it guarded prisoners until Jan. 1864, and then was assigned to similar duty at Rock Island. In June it was ordered to Memphis, Tenn., and placed on picket and guard duty. It furnished the guard every other day for the provision train from Memphis to Lagrange, Tenn., and Holly Springs, Miss. While engaged on this duty, the train was fired into by guerrillas in ambush and 2 men of the regiment were killed and 2 slightly wounded. In Aug. 1864, the regiment was ordered to Indianapolis, Ind., and from there five companies were sent to Cincinnati to guard prisoners. The remaining five companies guarded for a time the Confederate prisoners at Camp Morton, when three companies were sent to Columbus and the remaining two to Gallipolis. About the middle of May, 1865, the regiment was reunited at Cincinnati, and on May 24, it was mustered out at Davenport, the first of those enlisted from Iowa for three years. Its losses during its term of service were as follows: deaths from battle, 3; deaths from disease, 145; wounded, 2; discharged, 359. Source: The Union Army, vol. 4 Battles Fought Fought on 15 August 1864 at Memphis, TN.

Thanks to Susie Martin-Rott who sent the following information:
(John and Nancy Goodge) moved Post Oak Twp, Johnson Co MO where they appear on the 1870 Federal Census. John is listed as age 69 farmer b. PA Nancy age 61 keeping house b PA.

PLACE: Lived in Fayette Co. PA; on a farm near Burnett Station MO (may be Barnett, Morgan Co. MO), about 1877 to 1880; and farm near Nevada, Bernon Co. MO 1881.

Civil war, 37th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry "GRAYBEARD REGIMENT" Company A

Goodge, John.
Age 61. Residence Cedar Rapids, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Oct. 18, 1862, as Seventh Corporal. Mustered Nov. 6, 1862. Mustered out May 24, 1865, Davenport, Iowa. Rank Induction-Corporal, Rank Discharge - Private

PLACE: Lived with her family near Bryan family near Uniontown PA before marriage.

MISC: Reported to be a cousin of U.S. A. Vice President Hendricks and to be a niece of Martha Washington, but research along these lines has yielded no verification.

CENSUS: 1850 Franklin Twp, Fayette Co., PA, p 215; 47 years, born PA; census taken on 23 Aug 1850 with name listed as Mary Bryant; see seperate entries for husband and children.
CENSUS: 1860 - no census found.

CENSUS: 1870 Fayette City P.O., Tyrone Twp, Fayette Co., Pa, p503; 67 yrs, Keeping house; $7520 R.E., $1690 Pers.., born PA; census taken on 6 Aug 1870, see separate entries for children' (William Stewart, 9 yrs, also living with them).

CENSUS: 1880 Tyrone Twp (Lower), Fayette Co., PA, p558; 77 yrs, widowed, keeping house, born PA; father born MD, mother born MD see separate entries for children.

BURIAL; Bryan Church Cemetery next to Bryan Church.