Jesse Goddard Jesse Goddard brought his family to Washington County, Arkansas, about 1831. The family had traveled several hundred miles, undoubtedly in the company of other families from northeastern Tennessee. As was customary at that time, they must have built a boat or raft of some type and set forth from Kingston, Roane County, Tennessee, and floated down the Tennessee River into Alabama, portaged at Muscle Shoals, then continued to traverse the western part of Tennessee, this time from south to north. Up through Kentucky and into the Ohio river, down which they floated into the Mississippi. At the Arkansas river they would have had to pole up river to about Van Buren, then travel overland to Washington County, Arkansas, a land of lush growth and many streams and springs, which produced bountiful crops. Jesse Goddard was born on February 1, 1795 in Sullivan County, Tennessee, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Goddard. In the War of 1812 he served in the East Tennessee Infantry as a Private, enlisting on October 12, 1813. In 1816 Thomas Goddard sold their land in Sullivan County and bought 1000 acres in Morgan County, which was newly formed from Roane County. Jesse married Mary Elizabeth Senter in Roane County, on November 13, 1817. She was born on July 9, 1799 in Hawkins County, Tennessee, a daughter of Tandy and Susan (Lyon) Senter. Tandy Senter was a very colorful man who lived more than 100 years - a frontiersman, Indian trader (and sometimes Indian fighter) and a staunch patriot who fought in the Revolution. Jesse bought land in both Roane and Morgan Counties, but sold it in 1830 before moving to Arkansas. Jesse and Mary Elizabeth Goddard bought land and settled in Vineyard Township, where they raised their eleven children. Mrs. Margaret Goddard, widow of John Franklin Goddard, still lives on some of this land. Jesse and his family were active and responsible members of their community. The family were Methodists and some became ministers and missionaries. Goddard Memorial Methodist Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas, was named for Reverend Oscar Elmo Goddard, a grandson of Jesse. Children of Jesse and Mary Elizabeth Goddard were: Susan Lyon Goddard, born October 31, 1818 in Roane County, Tennessee; died December 19, 1861 in Washington County; she married Burton Smith and they lived in Washington County. Tandy M., born October 19, 1820 in Roane County, Tennessee; died December 9, 1879 in Washington County; married Lucinda J. Woody, January 4, 1848 in Benton County; lived in Washington County. Martin L., born March 22, 1823, Roane County, Tennessee; died July 22, 1900, Dutch Mills, Arkansas; married Margaret Aisling on April 30, 1858. They lived in Benton County, where Martin was a saddler until the Civil War interfered; then they moved back to Dutch Mills, where Martin farmed and operated the local general merchandise store. Two or three of his daughters taught in the Dutch Mills school. Greenleaf, born February 27, 1826, Roane County, Tennessee; died May 29, 1900, Evansville, Arkansas; married Eliza Jane Alberty on January 1, 1857. Lived in Vineyard Township. William Thomas, born February 10, 1829, Roane County, Tennessee; died February 12, 1908 in Evansville, Arkansas; married Caroline Woody on December 17, 1869; had one child, John Franklin Goddard. Martha Jane, born August 15, 1831, Washington County, Arkansas; died February 22, 1839. Columbus Evan, born December 29, 1834, Washington County, Arkansas; died March 31, 1910. Sulphur, Oklahoma; married Narcissa Theresa Smedley on March 10, 1855, Sebastian County, Arkansas. One of their sons, Oscar Elmo Goddard, became a Methodist minister of note. Son Herbert Melvin became a Deputy U. S. Marshal and was killed in the line of duty. Albert W., born August 21, 1836. Elizabeth Augusta, born December 22, 1837, Washington County, Arkansas; died August 18, 1895; married William Henderson Edmiston on February 16, 1857/58. John Wesley, born April 10, 1840, Washington County, Arkansas; died August 27, 1863. Mary A., born September 25, 1846, Washington County, Arkansas; died October 13, 1861. Many proud descendants of Jesse and Mary Goddard now live in Washington County, while others are scattered across the country. By: Lucile White Prior