J.C. Goodrich letter to Grinnell Herald

GOODRICH, SANDERS, GOULD, MCBLAIN, BLISS, PIERCE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/13/2011 at 22:41:42

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Nov. 22, 1929

J.C. GOODRICH
Oct. 11, 1929
San Diego, California
3752 Goldflich

Grinnell Herald:
I note in recent issues of the Herald that you are asking for the names of non-resident early settlers of Grinnell and vicinity.

Think my name belongs on that list as I came with my parents in the spring of 1865 and settled on a farm about two miles east and one half mile south of Grinnell.

The land was mostly prairie at that time. The first house out in that direction is now owned by Miss Sanders, the next one was owned by Mr. Gould and is now occupied by Dave McBlain; the third house on the road which ran diagoually S.E. was the home of Harvey Bliss, the fourth was one half mile off the prairie road and was our home, and the next one was L.G.C. Pierce's.

The prairies were changed into farms on which small improvements were made, but there was some prairie still used for grazing as late as 1875.

We were located about one fourth mile south of the C.R.I. & P. railroad and were troubled somewhat by prairie fires in the fall of the year until adjacent land was taken up and farmed. The R.R. engines in the early days had the balloon shaped smoke stacks which were supposed to be covered with a screen, but occasional sparks got through and if they set fire to the dry grass with the wind N.W. the result was thrilling if not dangerous, especially at night.

I would like to be there at the homecoming, and the opening of the airport, as it is located on the old home farm where I was raised.

Yours respectfully,
J.C. Goodrich