DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Charles Goodnight. The name alone carries weight out here in Armstrong County, and the stone marker doesn't waste a single word.
Born in 1836, died in 1929 — and in between, he packed in enough living for about a dozen ordinary men. Let me walk you through it. At nineteen years old, Goodnight was headed west toward the California gold fields.
Most young men with that destination kept right on going. Not Goodnight. Somewhere along the way, he looked out at the land and saw something the gold-rushers couldn't be bothered to notice — ranching possibilities.
He stopped. He settled. He started a ranch way down in Palo Pinto County, a full two hundred and thirty miles southeast of where you're rolling right now.
That's the first sign you're dealing with a man who saw things differently. Then came the Civil War, and Goodnight didn't sit it out. He rode as scout, guide, and hunter for the Frontier Regiment, Texas Cavalry — protecting settlers from Indian raids and Federal invasion both.
That's a two-front job with no days off. After the war, the real legend starts taking shape. Goodnight partnered with Oliver Loving, and together they moved cattle herds across arid west Texas and New Mexico — lands dominated by Comanche Indians — pushing northeast toward U.S. forts.
That route became known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail, and the marker is careful to give Loving his share of the credit. Goodnight also founded old Goodnight College — a Texas Ranger, an Indian fighter, a trailblazer, and a man who built a school. The marker doesn't editorialize, and honestly, it doesn't need to.
The facts line up and speak for themselves, standing right here on the plains he once looked at and decided were worth staying for.
What the marker says
(1836-1929) Texas Ranger, Indian fighter. At 19, on way to California gold fields, saw ranching possibilities. Settled and started ranch in Palo Pinto County, 230 miles southeast of here. In Civil War, scout, guide and hunter for Frontier Regiment, Texas Cavalry, protecting settlers from Indian raids and Federal invasion. With Oliver Loving, moved cattle herds across arid west Texas and New Mexico lands dominated by Comanche Indians, establishing Goodnight-Loving Trail northeast to U.S. forts. Founded old Goodnight College. (1964)