Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 1886. Allen County. THOMAS M. GOODNIGHT was born November 4, 1817, in Warren County, Ky., where he grew to manhood, and in 1843 removed to Allen County, where he has since resided. His father, Isaac Goodnight, was born in the fort at Harlan's Station, now Harrodsburg, Ky., January 1, 1782; was reared on the frontier; was an active member of the Baptist Church; located in Warren County in 1806, where he died October 14, 1869. He was the son of Michael Goodnight, a native of Germany; immigrated to Virginia, and located in Rockbridge County, about 1708; located in Mecklenburg County, N.C., in 1762; had two sons in the revolution; removed to Mercer County, Ky., 1780, and was slain by the Indians near Harrodsburg in 1782. He was the father of twenty-four children. Isaac Goodnight was married four times; first, September 5, 1805, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas McMurray, of Lincoln County, born April 23, 1787; died September 29, 1827, and from their union sprang Catherine (Jameson), James, Abraham, Mary (Neal), Christina, (Casey and Feland), Thomas M., Elizabeth (Grounds), Sarah Motley, Nancy R. (Murdock) and Rachel A (Bedford). His second wife was Mary Grounds, born in 1800, died in 1847, and their offspring are Martha (Larrance), Isaac S., Jacob and Henry G. September 1, 1840, Thomas M. married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Mary (Renick) Motley, of Allen County, born March 9, 1821, and to them have been born Mary E. (deceased), Isabell (deceased) and Georgie E. (Gibson). Mr. Goodnight carried on the tanner's trade, at which he was successful for forty-five years. He is now a farmer, owning 550 acres of well improved and productive land, in a high state of cultivation. He has given his children each 200 acres of land. Mr. Goodnight has secured his possessions by his own industry and foresight. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity; also a member of the Baptist Church, and in politics is a Democrat. Goodnight McMurray Jameson Neal Casey Feland Grounds Motley Murdock Larrance Bedford Renick Gibson = Warren-KY Germany Rockbridge-VA Mecklenburg-NC Mercer-KY Lincoln-KY http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/allen/goodnight.tm.txt