John H Decatur Goodman was born on November 2, 1846, in Decaturville, Tennessee, to Martha A McCarval, age 33, and Camnsel Benjamin "Lumpkin" Goodman, age 44.
John H Decatur Goodman married Frances Alsenda Oakley in Decaturville, Tennessee, on March 25, 1873, when he was 26 years old. They had 8 children
John H Decatur Goodman died on December 5, 1928, in Memphis, Tennessee, when he was 82 years old.