Goodenow-Wright marriage

GOODENOW, WRIGHT

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/14/2008 at 15:31:01

Chicago Record Herald, June 29, 1901.

MAQUOKETA, IOWA June 28- Mr. and Mrs. John E. Goodenow of this city, dispute the claim of Mr. and Mrs. Cole of Sibley, to being the oldest wedded pair in Iowa. Mr. Goodenow, the founder of this town, was born in Vermont, March 23, 1812. In 1836 he came to Iowa and began cultivation of land on which this thriving city now stands. In 1839 he returned to New England and married Miss Eliza Wright. They journeyed to the home in Iowa in a covered wagon, taking nine weeks for the trip. Mr. Goodenow was a member of the first Iowa legislature, named the counties of Osceola and Kossuth, was the first postmaster of Maquoketa and several times its mayor. Mrs. Goodenow was born in 1818.