22 | 2020 MCDONALD COUNTY DIRECTORY
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One of the most colorful characters
from Goodman's past is Matthias
Splitlog, who was born in New York
in 1812 half Cayuga and half French,
and was removed to Ohio to live
with the Wyandott Tribe. In 1843 he
moved with his wife to the region
where he was destined to make
his fortune. He first constructed a
sawmill then a gristmill and soon a
general store followed, all of which
provided employment for local
citizens. He added a blacksmith
shop and a three-story factory for
the manufacture of buggies and two
seated hacks. An elementary school
was built with tuition set at five
cents a day. Always far-sighted and
innovative, in 1887 Matthias provided
most of the financing for the "Splitlog
Line" a railroad constructed from
Goodman to Neosho. Unfortunately
that undertaking involved some
unscrupulous partners and that, along
with the speculation on a gold and
silver mine that didn't materialize,
nearly derailed him. Never defeated,
he bounced back soon after and
went on to become the Chief of the
Seneca's at the age of 78.
Matthias Splitlog
the "Millionaire Indian"
