Good people

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Mon, May 17, 2004 at 04:07:24PM +0100, Jonathon Green wrote:
> Prior to WW2:
>
> 1896 Henry Blossom _Checkers_ 117: Just to show the girl that he was 'good
> people,' and teach her to have a proper respect for him.

[etc.]

Much as I loathe the book, and desire to not give it any attention,
I feel obligated to post the following antedating to Jonathon's
wonderful and contextual list:

1891 J. Maitland _Amer. Slang Dict._ 202 _People (Am.),_ "He is
great people," is used in a commendatory sense of anyone.

Jesse Sheidlower
OED