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Charles Goodnight ( March 5, 1836- December 12, 1929) was a cattle rancher in the American West. He was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, the fourth child of Charles and Charlotte (Collier) Goodnight. He moved to Texas in 1846 with his mother and stepfather (Rev. Adam Sheek). In 1856, he became a cowboy, and served with the local militia fighting against the Comanche raiders. A year later, in 1857, Goodnight joined the Texas Rangers.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, he joined the Confederacy. Most of his time was spent as part of a frontier regiment guarding against raids by Indians. Following the war, he became involved in the herding of feral Texas longhorn cattle northward from West Texas to railroads. In 18661866 is a common year starting on Monday. Events January 6 Ottoman troops clash with men of a Maronite leader Karam in St. Doumit in Lebanon Turks are defeated January 12 Royal Aeronautical Society is formed ( London) January 28 800 Maronite troops clash, he and Oliver LovingOliver Loving ( December 4, 1812- September 25, 1867) was a cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive who with Charles Goodnight developed the Goodnight-Loving Trail. He was mortally wounded by Native Americans while on a cattle drive. He was born in drove their first herd of cattle northward along what would become known as the Goodnight-Loving TrailThe Goodnight-Loving Trail was a trail used in the cattle drives of the late 1860s for the large-scale movement of Texas longhorns northward from the open range country of west Texas and New Mexico to the railroads in Colorado. The trail ran from Young Co. Goodnight invented the chuckwagonA chuckwagon was originally a wagon that carried food and cooking equipment or the prairies of North America. They would form a part of a wagon train of settlers or feed nomadic workers like cowboys or loggers. While some form of mobile kitchens had exist, which was first used on this cattle drive.
On July 26July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. Events 1139 Afonso, then a count, is procclaimed first king of Portugal and declares independence from Castile 1469 Battle of Edgecote Moor 1788, 1870Events January 6 The inauguration of the Musikverein ( Vienna). January 10 John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil January 15 A political cartoon for the first time symbolizes the United States Democratic Party with a donkey ("A Live Jackass Kicking, Goodnight married Mary Ann (Molly) Dyer, a schoolteacher from Weatherford, TexasWeatherford is a city located in Parker County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,000. It is the county seat of Parker County 6. Weatherford was subject to heavy flooding on June 9 2004. Weatherford was the birthplace of. Goodnight developed a practical sidesaddleThe Sidesaddle is a type of saddle on which the rider sits aside rather than astride the mount. The sidesaddle was designed for use by Women for as it was considered unbecoming for a lady to straddle a horse whilst riding. Modern sidesaddle may be seen in for his wife to use.
In 1876, Goodnight founded what was to become the JA Ranch , in Palo Duro Canyon.
In addition to raising cattle, Goodnight preserved a herd of native buffalo, which survives to this day, and also experimented with crossbreeding buffalo with domestic cattle.
After his wife's death in April of 1926, Goodnight became sick, but was nursed back to health by Corinne Goodnight, a 26 year old nurse and telegraph operator from Butte, Montana, with whom Charles had been corresponding because of their shared surname.
In his last years he mined in Mexico and tried to become a movie producer. On March 5, 1927, Charles turned 91 and married the very young Corinne Goodnight. Two years later, Goodnight died on December 12th in Phoenix, Arizona.
Several streets in the Texas Panhandle are named after Goodnight. in addition to the Charles Goodnight Memorial Trail and the highway to Palo Duro Canyon State Scenic Park. Goodnight is also known for guiding Texas Rangers to the Indian camp where Cynthia Ann Parker was recaptured, and for later making a treaty with her son, Quanah Parker.