John T. Goodbrake enlisted in Company B, 1st Missouri State Militia Cavalry, at Gallatin, Missouri, on February 5, 1862.

In the fall of 1861, Missouri Governor Hamilton Gamble proposed that a militia force be raised within the state to cooperate with regular U.S. troops, but not be ordered out of the state, “except for the immediate defense” of Missouri. The Missouri State Militia (MSM) was to be armed, equipped, clothed, fed, transported and paid by the U.S. government. Many units of the MSM, particularly cavalry units, saw service as anti-guerrilla forces in Missouri.

Goodbrake saw action on a number of occasions as the regiment battled Confederate guerrillas in north Missouri; scouting and escort duty also occupied their time, and the 1st MSM pursued Gen. Sterling Price during his 1864 raid through Missouri. Goodbrake was promoted to captain on April 14, 1864, and was mustered out of service on February 12, 1865.

Goodbrake died on January 16, 1876, near Lexington, Missouri.