Molly Goodnight
Ranch Wife and Savior of the Southern Buffalo
1839 – 1926 A.D.

In the late 1800s as the once massive herds of buffalo gradually disappeared from the Great Plains of the Midwest it was mostly because of American overhunting. In fact, at the time extinction seemed possible. However, eventually cattle ranchers on the southern plains—including Texas—realized the buffalo’s commercial value and gradually formed herds from orphaned calves. Thus, the number of buffalo in rancher-owned herds gradually increased. And one of these herds was built by a rancher’s wife when in 1879 Mrs. Charles (Molly) Goodnight asked her husband to set aside several hundred acres for her to start her own buffalo herd. She started with three calves and according to one source is “…credited with saving the Southern plains bison from extinction.”

Mary Ann Dyer Goodnight (known as Molly) was born in 1839 in Tennessee, the daughter of an important local attorney. She was 14 when her family moved to Fort Belknap, Texas where soon after her parents passed away, leaving her in charge of her five brothers. For several years she taught school and then about 1864 met Charles Goodnight but continued to teach until they were married in July, 1870. They settled in Pueblo, Colorado where Charles established a ranch, with Molly’s brothers working with him. However, while living there they soon encountered frontier violence. Near their home once two cattle rustlers were strung up on a telegraph pole, horrifying Molly and leaving Charles unsure what to say to soothe her. Finally he commented: “Well,” he said, “I don’t think it hurt the telegraph pole.”

Though adjustment to her home was difficult, Molly gradually grew fond of her community, and became involved in local activities particularly religious life. As a lifelong Methodist she helped set up the first church of that denomination in the area.

Then a national financial crisis and widespread drought in 1873 so affected the area that Charles moved back to Texas, as Molly went to live in California with family as he planned their future. Then Charles joined John George Adair, a wealthy Irish man, to form the JA Ranch and Molly returned. Then she and Charles, Mr. and Mrs. Adair, and Molly’s brother Albert Dyer and several others moved a cattle herd to the Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas panhandle where they erected a two room cabin in 1877. To travel, Mrs. Adair rode a horse and Molly drove a team and the wagon. Shortly the Adairs left the new JA Ranch to Molly and Charles. So began Molly’s Goodnight life as a ranch owner’s wife and according to one source to the many cowhands of the time she became known fondly as the “Mother of the Panhandle.”

Living there on the Palo Duro Canyon, Molly was one of the only women in the area on the ranch and with her new life became responsibilities. According to one source she became “…doctor, nurse, homemaker, spiritual comforter, sister and mother to the hands who worked for her husband.” Also, the JA Ranch was in a unique location. One ranch border was the canyon—1500 deep, 10 miles wide and nearly 100 miles long—in a territory where once the Comanche had roamed and camped.

In addition, about that time Goodnight and his partner Oliver Loving entered history as they created the trail that bore their names, and which was the route for many cattle drives of at the time from Texas north.

Due to Charles’ often being away on business, Molly was a frequent ranch manager as she helped nurse cowboys using folk medicines, served as the local chaplain and also patched the cowboys’ worn clothing. To enable Molly to travel around the ranch with propriety, Charles designed a special two horned sidesaddle for her. Except for a neighbor woman she saw every few months, her closest companions were often the cowboys, a few local Natives and the three pet chickens.

Molly was also a caring and proactive nurturer for her employees and community with strict rules for her employees. For example, her policy was that the cowboys at her various ranches would attend church even if the service was held outdoors, and unmarried wranglers were required to eat at her own dining table to make sure they had a consistently good diet. Molly also saw that the local needy children received necessary clothing and that area families received Christmas turkeys.

Over time, Molly developed a concern for the buffalo calves that were survivors of the once massive herds. She began rescuing the calves she could, and formed what became known as the Goodnight herd. Over time these rescued survivors matured and some were then bred with the local range cattle to form the “Cattalo” that could be raised for meat. Molly had her own separate herd raised under the Flying T brand, and even commissioned artist J.C. Cowles to paint scenes of the ranch and the local canyon.

Then in the 1870s as the bison became scarcer there were often Native raids on the JA Ranch cattle. So to protect his herd Charles signed an agreement with Quanah Parker, chief of the local Comanche, promising to provide buffalo meat for Parker’s people if they did not raid the ranch cattle. This began a continued close relationship between Charles and Parker.

Over time there were continuing challenges to the ranch business so Charles decided to move to a new property. In 1887 he acquired a new ranch in nearby Armstrong County and there built a new two story ranch house for himself and Molly as he moved his cattle and bison herds to the new location. Soon Molly and Charles established their new home in a community that eventually bore their name—Goodnight, Texas. Then as the area began to become more populated with new residents, schools, and churches Molly began to contribute to philanthropic causes. Molly was also a part of the establishment of the school that was known as Goodnight College, as she helped to fund the construction of the college buildings. Besides her interest in the college, she also loved to entertain as she often hosted events for the college students. Often she would add to the fun by playing her piano wearing Charles’ hat with pink chiffon draped around it. She became fondly known as “Aunt Mary.”

The Goodnights had no children so she continued to nurture young people by offering board and room to college students. Some even worked on the ranch to pay their way. Goodnight College later evolved into a junior college in 1914 and then failed due to financial reverses several years later.

Throughout the years Molly had been a loyal and supportive wife. Despite Charles’ occasional fear of financial ruin, one biographer described how Molly “…provided stability, yanking him back to solid ground repeatedly.”

Sadly, Molly suffered from dementia in her later years, and sometimes was found wandering her property. She died at the Goodnight Ranch in 1926 and her gravestone is engraved: “One who spent her whole life in the service of others.”

One author described the couple’s relationship: “Despite the Goodnights’ diverse philosophical views—beginning with saving four bison calves—their marriage was a 56 year partnership in business enterprises, educational endeavors, and community service.”

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Anne Adams is a retired church staffer. She lives in East Texas and has an historical column for a local newspaper. She has published in Christian and secular publications for more than 40 years.

References:

Wikipedia
Texas State Historical Association
Jane Little Botkin
Texas Historial Commission