Surnames: Goodell, Bayliss, Young

The Loyal Tribune 09 January 1941

Goodell, Thomas (NOV 1844 - 1 JAN 1941)

Thomas Goodell, 96, one of Clark County’s two remaining Civil War Veterans, died of Pneumonia on New Years Day, 1941, at 4 P. M. at the home of his grandson, Howard Goodell, in Loyal township. Although he had been suffering the infirmities of old age for several years, he had been seriously ill only since Christmas.

He was born in Springfield, Ill., Nov. 1844. When a boy of 17, he enlisted in Company A of the 15th Illinois Infantry. He fought during the last two years of the war under Grant and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. He had the honor of becoming acquainted with Lincoln during the Civil War period.

After his marriage to Mary Bayliss, Mr. and Mrs. Goodell lived in Springfield for about fourteen years. They then moved to Kansas, returned to Illinois, and from there went to Iowa where Mrs. Goodell died twenty-six years ago. Following his wife’s death he went to make to make his home with his grand-son, Howard Goodell; and, when the family came to Clark County in 1926, he came with them. He has since been one of Loyal’s honored "Old Soldiers."

Following his death, his body was taken to his old home, Lansing, Iowa, where the American Legion Post No. 50 conducted a military funeral for him. The funeral was held in the Federated Church with the pastor of that church officiating. Interment was in the Oak Hill Cemetery by the side of his wife.

Thomas was the father of but one child, Frank Goodell of Loyal. He had been visiting his father here and accompanied Howard and his two daughters Gladys and Jean to Lansing for the funeral. A granddaughter, Mrs. Clarence Young and children of Auburndale also attended the funeral.

One grandson, Thomas Goodell, Jr., of Iowa, who had been visiting here left for home just previously to the death of his grandfather.

Surviving Mr. Goodell besides his son Frank are five grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

And now Clark County’s only remaining Civil War Veteran is Albert Darton of Loyal, since Thomas Goodell has been "mustered out" to await the great "Reveille."