John W. Goode, a substantial farmer of Grand River Township, is a native of Warsaw County, Ky., born on February 4, 1846. He is the son of Thomas J. and Martha A. (Callaway) Goode. They were of English and German descent, and natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The father was born on July 4, 1815, and the mother about 1817. In early life the father immigrated to Kentucky, and was married in Warren County about 1836. Upon marrying they settled in Warren County, where they resided until 1847, when they immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Cass County, but later (in 1863) they removed to Leavenworth County, Kas. They afterward went to Wyandotte County, Kas., where they died, the father on January 2, 1877, and the mother on February 2, of the same year. Their remains rest in Mount Hope Cemetery, Leavenworth County. In Kentucky the father was a boat-builder. In Cass County he was engaged in farming, and served two terms as high sheriff. In Kansas he served as probate judge of Wyandotte County one term, and paid considerable attention to farming and stock raising. He and wife were members of the Christian Church. Politically he was a Democrat. John W. is the fourth of nine children. He received a common-school education, and worked on his father's farm until his fifteenth year, when he enlisted in the United States army. He served eighteen months in the Second Missouri State Militia, and in 1863 enlisted in the Fourteenth Kansas Regiment of Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served the remainder of the war. After the war he went to his father's in Leavenworth County, Kas., and engaged in farming about two years, when he went to Wyandotte City, and read law one year. Abandoning the profession, he went to Pettis County, Mo., and for one year was contractor on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. About 1875 he removed to Morgan County, Ill., where he engaged in farming about two years. He then followed that pursuit in Wyandotte County, Kas., and in Fremont County, Iowa. He afterward accepted a position as traveling salesman for the Mount Arbor Nursery for one year, then came to Maysville, Mo., and traveled for the Maysville Nursery two years. He next came to De Kalb County, and settled where he now lives. On January 12, 1880, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Nannie C. Walker, whose maiden name was Owen. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Goode is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), pp. 562.