GOODLOE, THOMAS “T.J.”

In 43 short years, T.J. Goodloe accomplished several lifetimes’ worth of public service.

His family history goes back to the Stagville Plantation.¹Michael Williams informant. Michael is the third-great-grandson of Daniel Goodloe (c.1826-1918) via his daughter Phoebe Goodloe. Matthew Goodloe and a woman named Molly, both born enslaved at the turn of the nineteenth century, were his paternal grandparents.²Herbert Gutman, Ph.D., The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom 1750–1925 (New York: Pantheon Books, 1976). Chart 15 iii: Family and Kinship Structure, Bennehan Cameron Plantation Slaves, North Carolina, 1776-1842. Their son Lewis (sometimes Louis) was T.J.’s father.³1870 US Census Durham: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4277629_00390?pId=20029979: accessed 29 Jun 2022. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

1880 US Census Durham: “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB6-SNTN?cc=1417683&wc=XWLQ-7M9%3A1589411027%2C1589395954%2C1589398322%2C1589395040 : 24 December 2015), North Carolina > Orange > Durham > ED 195 > image 57 of 72; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.) His mother was Harriet Justice.⁴Marriah Bynum death certificate: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1121/images/S123_458-1974 : accessed 29 Jun 2022. Original data: North Carolina State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. North Carolina Death Certificates. Microfilm S.123. Rolls 19-242, 280, 313-682, 1040-1297. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.

T.J. had six brothers and sisters: Obed (b. 1852), Amos (b. 1855), Nathan (b. 1862), Maria (1869), William (b. 1875), and Amy (b. 1879). T.J. himself was born in 1872. All were born in Durham Township of Orange County.⁵Older children: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4277629_00390?pId=20029979: accessed 29 Jun 2022. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Younger children: “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB6-SNTN?cc=1417683&wc=XWLQ-7M9%3A1589411027%2C1589395954%2C1589398322%2C1589395040 : 24 December 2015), North Carolina > Orange > Durham > ED 195 > image 57 of 72; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.)

T.J.’s childhood and adult life were spent in Durham’s Bragtown and Hayti communities as a first generation Stagville descendant. Both communities created a legacy of entrepreneurship and economic autonomy. We suspect that the influence of African American entrepreneurship made a strong impression on T.J. He was only 17 when he married Annie Holman on 17 Dec 1890, and he spent the next ten years as a day laborer, but his sights were set on a much brighter future.⁶T.J. Goodloe marriage registry: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/9275640:60548 : accessed 18 Oct 2022. Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.

Day laborer: “United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68F6-KG?cc=1325221&wc=9BWW-4WG%3A1030551601%2C1032311101%2C1032325101 : 5 August 2014), North Carolina > Durham > ED 26 Durham Township (excl. Durham city) > image 38 of 70; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). See also lack of job description in City Directories 1892–1902.

As we follow T.J.’s career as a businessman and civic leader, we find that it all began with his entry level position as a North Carolina Mutual insurance collector around 1901. He was building on connections that his father and other family members had made with community leaders like John Merrick, Charles C. Spaulding, Aaron McDuffee Moore, and P.W. Dawkins. These connections helped to model success that may have inspired T.J. to rise above the limitations of the Jim Crow South as an aspiring young man who had dreams of his own. Before long, T.J.’s commitment and steadily professional growth led to his becoming one of North Carolina Mutual’s District Superintendents.⁷“Tom Goodloe Dead,” Durham Morning Herald (Durham NC), 1 May 1915. https://www.newspapers.com/image/787315645/?terms=Goodloe&match=1.

North Carolina Mutual created a platform that allowed T.J. to expand his civic and economic status within the community. Though he and Annie had no children of their own, they were deeply involved with the Goodloe family as well as with their neighborhood. The 1900 Census shows T.J.’s older brother Nathan, along with Nathan’s two sons, living with T.J. and Annie, all of them next door to Nathan and T.J.’s uncle Daniel.⁸1900 US Census Durham. By 1910 there were 17 Goodloes within a single city block, at 626, 630, 632, and 718 Glenn Street.⁹1910 US Census Durham: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/20479341:7884: accessed 29 Jun 2022. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: https://www.archives.gov/research/census.

At the same time, T.J. was extremely active at White Rock Baptist Church, where he was a deacon, served as a member of the finance committee, and sang with the choir.¹⁰“Tom Goodloe Dead.”

In 1903, T.J. buried his father at Geer Cemetery with help of his brother, Nathan. Nathan was one of the cemetery trustees and most likely helped T.J. navigate the logistics of burying their father. Although it must have been difficult to deal with the loss of his father, T.J. was able to embark on a new journey in his life by going into business for himself, doubtless aided by a significant inheritance from his father. Lewis Goodloe had left T.J. all of his real estate, land purchased as far back as 1869. The fact that Dr. Aaron McDuffee Moore and P.W Dawkins witnessed the 1898 will points to the growing esteem that Lewis had earned for his family.¹¹Lewis Goodloe will, State Archives of North Carolina. Friends of Geer Cemetery has a scan of a poor photocopy.

By 1907, Durham Elite Mattress & Upholstering Company was born on 632 Glenn Street, T.J.’s home address.¹²Durham, NC Directory 1907-1908 (Durham, NC: Hill Directory Company, 1907-1908) p. 102, Goodloe surname; digital image, “North Carolina City Directories,” DigitalNC (https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/25126 : accessed 26 Oct 2022). In 1912, when W.E.B. Dubois visited Hayti, he was so impressed with the enterprising spirit of the Black business community and T.J.’s mattress factory that he was compelled to write an article titled “The Upbuilding of Black Durham” where he reports that “A Black man may get up in the morning from a mattress made by Black men in a house which a Black man built out of lumber which Black men cut and planed.”¹³W. E. Burghardt Du Bois, “The Upbuilding of Black Durham: The Success of the Negroes and Their Value to a Tolerant and Helpful Southern City,” World’s Work, vol. 23 (Jan. 1912). (https://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/dubois/dubois.html) Among other accolades, the Durham Elite Mattress company won the Bronze Medal in the Manufacturing category at the 1907 Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk VA.¹⁴George B. Cortelyou editor, Final report of the Jamestown Ter-centennial Commission : message from the President of the United States, transmitting the final report of the Jamestown Ter-centennial Commission, embodying reports of various officers of the Jamestown Exposition, held at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1907. (United States, Jamestown Ter-centennial Commission) 1909.

 Just as T.J. had hit his stride at the age of 43, hypertension led to an untimely death on 29 Apr 1915.¹⁵T.J. Goodloe death certificate: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1635871:1121 : accessed 28 Oct 2022. Original data: North Carolina State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. North Carolina Death Certificates. Microfilm S.123. Rolls 19-242, 280, 313-682, 1040-1297. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. Fortunately, his last will and testament, witnessed by John Merrick and C.C Spaulding, left his family well provided for.¹⁶Signatories: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/131289?availability=Family%20History%20Library > Record of wills, v. A-B 1881-1907 > Book B Page 582.

Provided for: “Tom Goodloe Dead.” T.J. was buried at Geer Cemetery alongside his parents.¹⁷T.J. Goodloe death certificate.

The Goodloe family would continue to make important contributions to Durham history. T.J.’s cousin Allen L. Goodloe, who lived at 710 Glenn and whose father was Daniel Goodloe, became a district manager at N. C. Mutual. Allen’s son Joseph would become its president.¹⁸Allen’s father: Allen L. Goodloe death certificate: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1635871:1121 : accessed 28 Oct 2022. Original data: North Carolina State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. North Carolina Death Certificates. Microfilm S.123. Rolls 19-242, 280, 313-682, 1040-1297. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.

NC Mutual: “Flonnie A. Goodloe,” The Herald-Sun (Durham NC), 15 Aug 1980: p. 4C. https://www.newspapers.com/image/787952450/ : accessed 28 Oct 2022.

BORN: 1872.²⁰1880 US Census Durham.

DIED: 29 Apr 1915.²¹T.J. Goodloe death certificate.

BIRTH PLACE: Durham Township, Orange County.²²1880 US Census Durham.

DEATH PLACE: Durham NC²³T.J. Goodloe death certificate.

SPOUSE: Annie Holman.²⁴T.J. Goodloe marriage registry.

PARENTS: Lewis Goodloe and Harriet Justice.²⁵Father: 1880 US Census Durham.

Mother: Marriah Bynum death certificate.

CHILDREN: None.

OTHER FAMILY: Brother Nathan, Cousin Allen L.²⁶Allen L. Goodloe death certificate.

FAMILY BURIED IN GEER CEMETERY: Father Lewis Goodloe, uncle Daniel Goodloe.

OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur.²⁷“Tom Goodloe Dead.”

CHURCH: White Rock Baptist.²⁸“Tom Goodloe Dead.”

AFFILIATIONS: Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows.²⁹“Tom Goodloe Dead.”

ADDRESS: 632 Glenn.³⁰Durham, NC Directory 1913-1914 (Durham, NC: Hill Directory Company, 1913-1914) p. 141, Goodloe surname; digital image, “North Carolina City Directories,” DigitalNC (https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/25165 : accessed 28 Oct 2022).

MILITARY SERVICE: N/A