JOHN GOLDSBERRY. The parents of this much esteemed citizen, William H. and Elizabeth (Fouts) Goldsberry, were natives of the Old North State, born in either Davidson or Randolph Counties. In 1836 or 1837 they left their native State and came to Missouri, locating on Gasconade River, in Pulaski County, where they made their home until 1846. From there they moved to Polk County and after living there a short time moved to Hutton Valley, Oregon County, before Howell had become a county. From Hutton Valley they moved to the place where Mountain View now stands, and there the mother died in 1870, when about sixty-three years of age. The father afterward lived with his children until his death in July, 1893, when eighty-one years of age. He was a minister in the United Baptist Church from the time he was a young man. He had a severe attack of the gold fever in 1849, which a trip to the Pacific coast alone would allay, and he crossed the plains with ox teams. At the end of six months, on account of sickness, he returned home by the Isthmus, New Orleans and Mississippi River. He helped to organize a great many of the pioneer churches and became one of the best known and best respected citizens in the section. Goldsberry Township, in Howell County, was named in honor of him. In politics he was a stanch advocate of the Democratic party. His family were old North Carolina people and his wife’s were of German origin. Of the seven children born to this worthy couple only one besides our subject is now living, a sister, the widow of Daniel Weaver, who resides near Mt. View, Howell County.
John Goldsberry was born on Gasconade River, Pulaski County, Missouri, February 25, 1839, and received his schooling in this, Polk and Howell Counties. Until the year 1860 he remained under the parental roof and then turned his attention to farming in Howell County. In February, 1862, he joined the Confederate Army, Howard’s Company, McFarland’s Infantry, but did not remain in that command long. He was taken sick and was left in Arkansas, but soon after joined Cole-man’s cavalry and was with the same until August 1862. During that time he was in a battle on South Fork, of White River, and was never wounded, although he had many narrow escapes. When the war closed he resumed farming in Howell County, but three years later he removed near to Birch Tree, and after another three years had passed he moved to Texas County. After a residence there of one year he moved back to the old home place, farmed there and put up the first store in Mt. View, named the town and sold goods there for about five years. In 1878-79 he ran a saw mill seven miles south of Mt. View in Howell County. Later he engaged in the saw mill business in the south part of Shannon County, on Hurricane Creek, and carried this on for five years. From there he went to Winona, sold goods for two years, and then came to his present farm of 195 acres on Current River. This is one of the finest tracts in the section. Mr. Goldsberry owns a small farm six miles south of Winona, 160 acres of improved land in the northeast part near Mt. View in Howell County and, other property. He started without means and by hard work and good management has become one of the substantial men of his section.
In 1861 he married Miss Susan Roark, who died in 1872. In 1873 Mr. Goldsberry married Miss Dorcas Weaver, daughter of Peter Weaver, an old settler of Birch Valley. Mrs. Goldsberry was born in Laurel County, Kentucky, in 1845, and is now a conscientious member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Goldsberry is a member of the Odd Fellow Lodge at Eminence, and in politics is a Democrat. He has the finest lot of bees in the county and sells many hives. He has hunted a great deal in this county and has killed deer, bears and all kinds of game. He often hunted from Willow Springs to Van Buren, of Current River, and only last winter he killed a wild cat, four wolves and other kinds of game. Mr. Goldsberry is a prominent man in his section and has attended county, district and State conventions.