Abraham Pierre Good

Abraham Good (Anna Brenneman's Grandfather)

Grandfather Good came to Ohio from Virginia in the Civil War years. He didn't believe in fighting so he hid himself whenever he could. The soldiers were always looking for him, so sometimes he dressed in grandmother's clothes so he could split wood or some other work for her while they still lived in Virginia.

They were still after him when they decided to move to Ohio. The weather was cold on the trip and he stopped to warm himself where they were shoeing horses. They had a high place where they kept the fire to heat the horses' shoes. Grandfather was warming his feet when the soldiers came for him. He waited until they got close and then kicked ashes in their eyes. By the time they could see again, he was gone. He had a small boy driving the wagon, and would join him whenever he could to give him instructions. Finally freedom came when they crossed into Ohio.

They first came to Putnam County and later to Allen County where they made their home. They had ten children and were very poor, living on bare necessities. Even so, they lived to a ripe old age. Grandfather died first and the children took good care of their mother Rebecca.

Grandfather was rather comical. He used to sit in the "Amen Corner" at church with his back tight against the corner. He would soon fall asleep because it was warm with the stove near. He also liked to warm his feet at home in the ash box of the stove and spit his chewing tobacco in the same box.

Obit from Herald of Truth: In Allen Co., Ohio, March 12, 1892, of erysipelas, A. P. Good, aged 68 years, 5 months and 20 days. Buried on the 14th at the Salem church, followed to the grave by many sympathizing relatives and friends. Services by C. B. Brenneman and Moses Brenneman. He was born in Rockingham Co., Va., and was married to Rebecca Rhodes. To this union were born ten children; two have preceded him to the promised land. There are 38 grandchildren living and 7 dead. He also leaves a dear companion with her family to mourn their loss, but blessed be God, they need not mourn as those having no hope. He was a devoted member of the Mennonite church for many years; always kind and charitable to the poor, and would sometimes discommode himself for the sake of helping the poor and needy. He was liberal in his contributions for the cause of Christ. The church has lost one of the charitable ones so much needed to advance the cause of Christ. In the last years of the late war he moved with his family from Rockingham Co., Va., to Putnam Co., Ohio, where he lived a few years and then moved to Allen Co., Ohio on the farm where he lived at the time of his death. A few nights before he died the writer visited him, and asked whether he was ready to be offered. He said he was, and that he was glad that we need not always remain in the world. He further said, "I am ready, and will just be satisfied as the Lord will." Oh, brethren, let us strive so to live that we can truly say at all times, "Just as the Lord will." C. B. Brenneman

From Eloise King's Book: It seems Abraham was one of those who helped people escape from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia during the Civil War. About eight months before the close of the war, he (Melchiah Breneman 1839-1882) decided to desert the service, together with Abraham Good, George Brunk, Simon Cooper, they equipped themselves with a horse, wagon and with some provisions and placed their wives on them and started over the mountains. The men walking after night and resting during the day, until they had crossed the line into the union territory where they separated. AP Good and wife, and George Brunk and wife going to Fairfield Co., OH. Simon Cooper and wife went to Muncie, IN, while Melchiah Breneman and wife went to Lancaster Co., PA.

John M Shenk related the following story regarding Abraham and Rebecca's reason for leaving Virginia: Abe Good made at least two trips from Virginia to Ohio while the Civil War was in progress. This fact became known to the authorities in Richmond, and they sent word to Harrisonburg that Abe Good should be brought to Richmond 'dead or alive.' A Confederate officer, along with a small detachment of troops, went to the Good homestead and confronted Abe.

The officer asked him if he had indeed been to Ohio and Abe replied that he had made two or three trips to Ohio during the course of the War, but that he had not carried war news. The officer then informed Abe that he had orders to take him to Richmond, dead or alive. Abe knew that if he went to Richmond he would be executed, so he told the officer, "you must take me here" and lay down on the couch. The officer pulled his pistol and put it in Abe's ribs (hard enough to leave a bruise), backed away and then poked the pistol in his ribs again. The officer then stated that if he must execute this man, there must be another officer present for a witness.

So he sent a soldier to bring in another Confederate officer. When the officer arrived he said, "Mr. Good, what is the problem here?" Abe said, "this man has come to take my life because I have been to Ohio during the War." Abe further explained that he had been to Ohio to visit friends, but that he had never carried any war news.

The second officer then said, "I have known Mr. Good my entire life and can vouch for him. If he says he never aided the Union cause, it is so." This was enough to convince the first officer that there was no reason to carry out the execution.

Shortly after this incident, Abe and Rebecca decided they must leave Virginia and sold their belongings. Just before they were ready to leave, there were still a few head of sheep to dispose of, and Abe sent his son to sell the sheep in the market at Harrisonburg, giving him strict instructions as to when they were leaving.

The son was late in returning from the market and Abe felt it was not safe to wait any longer for his return, so the family set out on the journey to Ohio without the boy. When the boy returned home he saw that the wagons had already left, so he ran off in the direction that he thought they must have taken.

He was able to catch up with the last wagon, jumped onto it without informing the driver, and fell asleep. Abe stopped the procession for a rest when he felt it was safe (they lived only a few miles for the West Virginia border which was Union territory,) but he was very distraught over having been forced to abandon his son. As he was checking over the wagons during the rest stop, he discovered the boy sleeping in the back and the family was reunited.