Robert Clarence Goodfellow was born in Dallas County, where his parents were long-time residents.  Educated at Baylor University, he came to Coleman County about 1890, and began working with cattle on the Frank Anson Ranch.  He soon had many friends and was elected constable, beginning a long and notable career as a criminal officer.  This record included service as city marshall, deputy sheriff, and six years as sheriff.  He won recognition by being elected vice-president of the Texas Sheriff's Association and later president of the organiza­tion.  In fact, he had earned the reputation as such an efficient officer of the law that Coleman County got the name of being unsafe for criminals; any fugitive from justice stayed clear of the area.  He captured three members of a Montana train robbery and was instru­mental in having them turned over to federal officers . Many other examples of his astuteness as an officer could be cited.  He was the sheriff when John Pearl was hanged in Coleman County.  After he retired in 1906, he became interested in farming and ranching. Bob Goodfellow held a position in the Comptroller's office in the Capitol.  Then he and his wife moved to Moody, where he died in 1937.

Mr. Goodfellow’s wife was Miss Fannie Foster, born in Adair County, Missouri; she came to Ellis County, Texas with her parents.  The three children of this marriage were: Leta Eugenis, Robert Clarence, and Nancy Lee.  Leta married Robert Clarence Miller; they reared four children in the county: Robert, Foster, Jean, and Dorothy (see Foster Miller).  Clarence served in the U.S. Navy during World War I, when he was injured.  He and his wife, Orpha, lived in Coleman until his death in 1940.  Nancy moved to DeSota after finishing high school in Coleman and married Orla Hash.  After his death, she moved back to Coleman and married W. A. Powell.  She died in 1980 at Palestine.