Wilston W Goodrich

GOODRICH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 10:16:53

Wilston W Goodrich, whose home is in Luther, was for many years an active and influential farmer of Garden township, but is now living retired. He still owns, however a valuable farm of 80 acres. He is numbered among the old settlers of the county, dating his residence in Iowa from 1856 and in Boone county from 1859. He was twenty-seven years of age at the time of his arrival here, his birth having occurred in Steuben county, New York, April 8, 1832. He was reared to manhood upon a farm in that county and was married there in 1853 t Margaret Jane Chambers, whose birth occurred in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1836. He afterward located upon his farm in Steuben county, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until 1856, the year of his arrival in Iowa. He first located in what is now Hamilton county and secured a claim which he cultivated and improved. After which he cultivated and improved. After farming in that county for more than two years he came to Boone county in 1859 and purchased a claim on 80 acres, on which he built a cabin, living in it for seven years while opening up his farm, breaking his land by placing it under the plow. He also fenced the place and made many substantial improvements upon his land, including the erection of a good residence and barns and out buildings. Fruit and shade trees are found upon his place, adding to its valued as well as to its attractive appearance, and the property is a very desirable one in this portion of the county.
On August 11, 1862, Mr Goodrich enlisted as a member of the Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was assigned to company D, and with his regiment joined the Western Army. A valiant soldier of the Union he participated in many engagements that led to its preservation. He took part in the battle of Cape Girardeau and went with General Banks on the Red river expedition, during which he was under fire continuously for a number of days. During that time he sustained a gun shot wound in the right knee and was thus permanently disabled, being sent to the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He there remained for four months, lying flat on his back, not being able to turn over during that entire time. He was ten transferred to the St Louis hospital in Jefferson Barracks, where he continued for two months. On the expiration of that period he was sent home and has never yet recovered the entire use of his limb. After he had recovered partially he resumed business and until his retirement from active life was identified with agricultural pursuits in this county.
In 1899, Mr Goodrich was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on April 18, that year and was laid to rest in Clark Cemetery. They had become the parents of three children: Charles L, farmer of Colfax township, James C, who is married and operates the home farm, and Sarah, who became the wife of Hiram Shutts. They then settled upon their farm, and Mrs Shutts there died May 9, 1884, leaving tow children.
Mr Goodrich is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is serving as one of the trustees of the church of the denomination in Luther. He also belongs to the Grand Army Post at Madrid, and since casting his first presidential vote for John C Fremont in 1856 he has supported each presidential nominee of the Republican party without one exception. He served for one term as assessor and has been a delegate to conventions of the party. He takes a deep interest in its growth and success, yet he has never been an office seeker, preferring to devote his attention to his business affairs. Forty-six years have pasted since he came to Boone county, years in which great changes have occurred. The pioneer settlers are passing away one by one their work will endure for years and in fact throughout future ages generation will be benefited by what they accomplished in reclaiming wild lands for the purposes of cultivation. Mr Goodrich has now reached the allotted psalmist’s span of three score years and ten, he is enjoying a well earned rest in his home in Luther, and is respected and highly esteemed citizen of this place.

1902 Boone County History Book