HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 506
L. N. GOODRICH
L. N. GOODRICH, of Missouri Valley, together with the genealogy of the GOODRICH family, will form the subject matter of this notice. It is not the desire of the author to consume the pages of the history of Harrison County in recounting the births and deaths of the GOODRICH family for the past five hundred years or more, who have their genealogy corroborated by English history from the earliest day. The following is an abridged sketch of the traditional and historical account of the GOODRICH family. Many volumes could be truthfully written, which would be but an abbreviated account of the family:
The earliest account we have of this family was about the time of the Christian era. At this particular time the Romans had possession of Britain, and for many years prior to this date the merchants in the North of CAESAR'S Government, had enjoyed something of a trade with the people of this newly acquired territory. And it came too pass that a certain one of these merchants of SAXON origin, wishing to further his interests in this traffic obtained a grant of land and erected thereon a very strong fort or castle, for the protection and safety of his goods and property. The people of the island were very crude in their ideas, their habits and habitations, as well; and we are sorry to say, the seas surrounding it were infested with pirates of the most debased and wicked type. For safety the people lived in villages, their tenements being chiefly constructed of wood and roofed with thatch. At any time these communities were liable to be overpowered by an armed force of bandits or pirates. The fathers and mothers were usually murdered; all their cattle and hogs (of which they had many) driven away, the young people and children were kidnapped, taken in boats to Rome and sold for slaves. When this Saxon merchant, or trader, saw how wicked these people were, who committed so many depredations in the country, he built his castle very much larger and it was used as a fort for many hundreds of people who dwelt there.
Now it is easy to see that this old SAXON sire of the GOODRICH family monopolized the trade from a great many miles of territory; and it is believed that he was the first trader that had ever come from Roman dominion, the Government of Science, Literature, and the Arts, and located on the Isle of Britain, which was many years afterward called England. His business was to export the commodities or products of the island to the cities of Northern Europe and trade for their manufactured wares, and fabrics, which he again traded to the people. The children for several hundreds of years kept up the business of their fathers, but times changed, the country changed, the people changed. The assassination and murder for plunder was abated, to some extent, but the confiscation of property and fines by the various Kings, who came into the country, seemed to take its place. Stock raising, vineyards and tilling the lands became the industries of the people. During this time thousands of wars, devastation and vicissitudes of every kind and character had swept the country. Kingdoms had come and gone; Kings had lived and died, but GOODRICH Castle was never subdued or taken, until after eight hundred years. It had been the object of many scores of sieges; times without number had the people of the surrounding neighborhoods and villages with their stock of valuables of every sort been safely housed behind its forbidding walls of rock. For all projectiles of every kind and make had been hurled against it, by the contending foes without, and made as little impression as the rain-drops. Inside were wells of water, bakeries, blacksmith shops, carpenter, stones for grinding grain, and butchers, while within its breadth and height were acres of storage-room, for food for man and beast. During the time of a siege everything was life and animation inside. Throngs of soldiers with shield in hand, manned the parapets and towers, hurling down spears and shooting arrows at the enemy, while others were engaged in hoisting huge rocks, for the soldiers to plunge down on the heads of those who attempted to scale the walls. If the assailing party was the emissary of a King, a compromise was usually made. But the end finally came, GOODRICH Castle was taken by the most perfect stratagem of an offended Danish King, and restored to them by Harold, the last of the SAXON Kings, who fell fighting for the altars and fires of Britain. Who shall say where the uncrowned sons of GODWIN sleep, or determine the amount of blood and treasure contributed by the house or Castle of GOODRICH---they too, were SAXON, loyal to Harold and his cause. William would blot from the memory of the land the names of its bravest defenders, placing in their stead those who furthered his designs. The property was again confiscated, the lands being distributed among the nobles and soldiers of William the Conqueror.
GOODRICH Castle is in an excellent state of preservation at the present time. It is situated in the extreme south of Herfordshire on the river which empties its torrents of crystal water into Bristol Channel. The historian INGULPH says: "In the year 870 the venerable father GOODRICH (GODRICK, SAXON, GOODRICH, ENGLISH) though very reluctant and making great opposition thereto was elected Abbot of Croyland. The Abbot for the next four years was harassed by fines and confiscations by the King of Mercia, until that Kingdom ended and in the year A.D. 940, weighed down with extreme old age, GOODRICH, Abbot of Croyland, died." This without doubt was one of the last holders of the estate. Since the time of confiscation the GOODRICHS have lived in all parts of England, and engaged in all kinds of honorable pursuits, usually holding small tracts of land. From the time of Henry the Eighth, the genealogy comes unbroken. In the early part of the reign of said King, Thomas GOODRICH was appointed by him one of the translators of the Bible, the book of John being his part. This same Thomas GOODRICH, with others, compiled the Prayer-Book, now used by the Episcopal Church. John and William GOODRICH immigrated to American in the forepart of the sixteenth century, form which nearly all bearing the name are descendants, as the history of America shows. Among the relatives of this family, is the late. S. C. GOODRICH, of New York, the great American writer and historian; Chancy A. GOODRICH, reviser of WEBSTER'S dictionary, also Chancy GOODRICH, Congressman, and later on Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts; Judge Grant GOODRICH, of Chicago, and his brother, who was the late owner of the lake steamers, which has carried the farm products and commerce of the Western country to the Eastern seaboard for the last thirty years. And so on, until we find this family at Missouri Valley. Jesse GOODRICH, the grandfather, was born in 1757, was a Revolutionary soldier; voted for George Washington the first time, his last vote being cast for Zachariah TAYLOR.
It will be observed that the best antiquarians that could be employed at various dates, all agree that the plan of architecture on the oldest part of GOODRICH Castle was used only by the SAXONS about the time of the beginning of the Christian era. Now we pass down to A.D. 940. A hundred years later, and under the reign of Edward, we find Earl GOODWIN, grandson of the venerable Priest of Croyland, in possession of the estate. The Earl had command of an army of soldiers of his own. He had confronted the King in battle array, and compelled him to perform certain acts, but Earl GODWIN and King Edward were the best of friends, when their united force met William at the battle of Hastings, in 1066, when all was lost. As time passed on, the GOODRICHS still clung to their tradition hoping the SAXONS would yet be able to throw off the NORMAN yoke, and they reinstated to their rightful possessions, of which William had robbed him. This hope was finally given up, but the GOODRICHS believing that they had the oldest lineage of any family in the world, kept their tradition. In the latter part of the fourteenth century we find one of the sires, Thomas GOODRICH, assisting in the revision of the Bible, when the wicked King Henry rebelled from the church at Rome. One hundred and fifty years later, William and John GOODRICH, grandsons of Thomas, embarked for America and settled in Connecticut. We would go on and relate where, and when each one of the fathers was born and died up to the present date, but this would be of no interest to the reader who is hunting after the early history of Harrison County, Iowa. With this genealogy, we turn again to GOODWIN B. GOODRICH, born March 1, 1784; married first time Ruth BANE, at Clarksville, Pa.
When the young couple had settled themselves for the beginning of in married life, and everything appeared as happy as could be, GOODWIN was drafted by the Government. His brother John volunteered to make him company. Goodwin bade his young wife good-bye, and the two brothers, with five others set off on foot, through the woods and snows of winter, for some camp near Niagara Falls. The hardships which they were called upon to endure, and the conflicts of shot and shell that they engaged in, could not be related in a reminiscence of this kind, but one of the thrilling engagements that the boys took part in, is known to all�the battle of PERRY'S Victory, on Lake Erie. A great many times have the children heard their fathers relate this bloody and awful event on the sea. There were a number of vessels on each side. The British seemed to think that by sinking the vessel where the commander was, would help their cause, so when that discovery was made, the shot and shell from more than two score of cannon was poured into the ship, until it sunk; but they were mistaken about drowning the brave commander, as the lifeboat saved most of the crew, though PERRY came near being lost; a cannon ball went through the bow of the skiff. All would have been lost in a moment, but the General snatched his coat from his shoulders which bore the gold epaulets and emblems of his rank, and with his knee crowed it into the ugly hole, where the water was spouting forth, with the cheering command, "one more pull and we will be safe!"
Goodwin had one son, Asher, and two daughters by his first marriage, Sarah and Elizabeth. It was some time in the '40s that Asher went to Tipton, Ind., and with his own hands he chopped the trees from a spot of ground large enough for a dwelling lot. Ten rods distant, where a street was indicated by the blaze on the trees he cut his timber, burned logs and brush, and here he erected a store-house, and was the pioneer merchant in Tipton. Later on he built a woolen factory in another part of the city; these buildings are to be seen at this time. He died in 1855, and has one living daughter. Her name is Belle PIKE. In 1876 the PIKES were removed to Peking in China, he being made supervisor over a portion of the Methodist Episcopal Missionary schools of that city, and up to date they have not had an hour's vacation.
In 1827 GOODWINN'S first wife died; in 1831 he married Kezia LLOYD. The family of LLOYD'S were from Hereford in England, near Ross, hence were acquainted with GOODRICH Castle, and the territory that had once belonged to the GOODRICH ESTATE. Kezia LLOYD had been very carefully educated. She brought up nine children without a physician and was a woman of more than ordinary ability, and was religious; her childhood home was Hagerstown, Md., her father being a merchant. Shortly after their marriage, Goodwin with his young wife located on a farm near Mt. Vernon, Ohio. The politics of the GOODRICHES from the Revolutionary war down, was the kind that supported WASHINGTON, JACKSON and POLK. In 1861 William LLOYD and Lewis GOODRICH and their brother-in-law, Jacob BYERS, responded to Lincoln's call for five hundred thousand men to prevent the dissolution of States. Now the veteran grandfather of these boys, at the age of eighteen, in the Revolution, had marched hundreds of miles through woods and over mountains, elbows out, feet tied in rags; most of the time no shoes or hat; occasionally days at a time passed without food. The only cause he knew was liberty, the only friend that Jesse knew was his dear old mother in Connecticut, who as often as opportunity presented, sent him a pair of shoes and socks, with other garments, always adding a bundle of bullets which she had moulded to help on the struggle for freedom later on. Their fathers, too, had spent many weeks and months in defending the rights of the new Republic against Britain and her pirates on the high seas. With this knowledge of the past, and the late disaster of Bull Run, the boys started, believing that one Republic, one Government, would be better in North America, than two. Lloyd, Lewis and Jacob were enrolled in Company F. Sixty-fifth Ohio Infantry, (SHERMAN' S Brigade) at Mansfield, Ohio. At the same time William volunteered in the Fourth California Infantry, and was afterward killed by the Indians in Arizona Territory.
Lloyd GOODRICH was twenty-one years old, light complexion, blue eyes, about six feet high, and rather heavy set. There was not a soldier in the regiment who could, or did endure more hardships, of war or battle than he. Lewis was seventeen years old, smaller than Lloyd and appeared altogether too young and too much of a lad to undertake the brunt and burden of army life. But he did stand it with Lloyd's help, without a falter or a furlough, until the battle of Stone River, in 1863. After the battle of Shiloh in 1862, Jacob BYERS was made Regimental Bugler, his place being at headquarters always on duty night or day, and he knows full well, to this day, how to sound the commands "Advanced" "Charge" or "Retreat." The times were not few during the five years of his service, when in the awful din from the fire of death, Jacob watching his opportunity, sounded the call, which led the gallant command to many a victory. January 2, 1863, at the battle of Stone River, Company F was supporting a battery, while the position of one of the cannon was being shifted; four of the horses took fright from the bursting shell that was poured into the gunners. Just at that time the terrified beasts went plunging down the hill, through the flank. Lloyd sprang aside to let them pass. A shell dropped at that instant, killing Lloyd GOODRICH, with two of the horses, life lasting but a few minutes. Lloyd said, "It will kill mother, when she knows that I am dead, but we have gained the day." They buried him. With fifteen hundred more who perished on that day.
At the time of the battle of Shiloh, Lewis was wounded a little above the knee, which destroyed his locomotion for a number of days, and for a short following this, he with others, was sent north to inspect railroad bridges. Some days after the battle of Perryville, he had the diphtheria, from which a distressing cough lingered, and in the early part of 1863, completely broken down by the hardships of army life, young GOODRICH was discharged and taken home by his brother George, who by the kindness of Gov. BROUGH (BRUFF) was permitted to go after him. In the spring of 1863 the health of Lewis was far from a satisfactory condition. Dr. HAYES, of Mt. Vernon, recommended a change of climate; hence it was decided to send the invalid to Magnolia, Iowa, to his two sisters. In pursuance the lad was directed by his mother and brother George to go to a relative in Cleveland, and was owner of a steamship line and get transportation for the West.
The elegantly equipped ship anchored at Cleveland, looked inviting, but the dangers from ice and winds caused him to take a different route. It was a warm Sunday morning in the last of March, 1863. Everything was quiet at John DALLY'S house, no one expected visitors; Aunt Lucy and the children were at church, when the stage-coach halted at the door. A thin, pale young man alighted; there were two bullet-holes in his clothes, and two wounds that were not entirely healed. Mrs. DALLY had noticed the hackman's halt, and with tears of joy ran to welcome her unexpected brother.
At this time Mr. and Mrs. DALLY had lived in the State about twelve years, most of the time near Ft. Dodge. Lucy GOODRICH (now Mrs. WRIGHT, of Dunlap) had been in the State but two years, and was one of the pioneer school teachers. Upon his arrival, Lewis was compelled to go to bed; Dr. J. H. RICE was called with his excellent prescriptions and by a sister's care, the middle of April found him nearly every day at the store of DALLY & PERLY, busy making new acquaintances.
At this time Magnolia probably contained the population of four hundred people; had a good school; one church (Congregational) and other church organizations. One Free Mason Lodge and another order called Union League. Among the young people, who resided in this little city could be found George McDUFFY, Newton and Henry LORENZ, William EATON, James HARDY, John BLY and others. Among the young ladies were Betty and Amelia HARD, Lucy GOODRICH, Helen LORENZ, May DOWNS, Mollie HARVEY, Cynthia SCOFIELD. John WILLIAMS kept the livery stable, the den where he kept his vicious broncos, and other apparently wild beasts were under a straw pile. There were no signs of vehicles in the vicinity of this stack, except a hay-rack, one sled with something like the tope story of a band-wagon for a box and an ugly lop-eared hound which kept all customers at a distance until John came to the front and called off the dogs.
At this particular period of frontier life John's customers had to go either on foot or horseback, on account of the high price asked for other modes of conveyance. Magnolia was the county seat, and the court room was used for a city hall. William FALLON owned the stately tavern stand on the hill, but William RAYMOND was the landlord. Here the stage-coach halted twice a day, with her crew of land-hunters and mail-bags. Prior to Raymonds hotel life he had been a freighter on the plains between Omaha and Denver, and a man by the name of McKINNEY kept the place. Mac was said to be some what profane in his common conversation. Al BENJAMIN and numerous others catered here to the wants of the lawyers and travelers during the '60s. Deer were quite plentiful in the country and several times fawns were offered for sale in the town by PURCELL brothers.
The first piano, fireproof safe, fine carriage and sleigh were brought into Harrison County, by Mr. OLMSTED of Harrison Township. He was very wealthy and was killed by accident in 1862. Judge HARDY owned the flourmill on the Willow, and Judge CHATBURN the saw-mill; there were great quantities of flour made at the grist-mill. In the winter of 1865, times were lively on account of high prices occasioned by the war. Two years prior, however, corn sold at ten cents per bushel and was used for fuel.
During the last of 1863 and early in 1864, young GOODRICH'S health seemed to be gaining, but when warm weather came, he seemed to break down entirely, and his life was despaired of, "what a horrible cough," was the talk by all. Dr. RICE was again called; his sisters, Lucy and Ruth, never ceased their effort and care to restore their brother to health; they succeeded to a great degree. In the following autumn he took his place in the store in which he had worked previous to his relapse.
When RUDASILL & WOOD succeeded DALLY he engaged with the new firm, remaining with them until 1871. We next find Lewis GOODRICH at Missouri Valley, to which place he went to live with his mother, and three brothers who had located there a short time prior. Within a year or two after this, the brothers, George and Frank, were married; July 1881 his mother died and in January the same year, he was married to Georgie ETTINGER, who resided with her parents at Boone, Iowa. She has one sister married (Eugenia) who is a great student, her mother being much given to books and literature, while her father is a contractor. In May, 1881, Lewis GOODRICH began business at Missouri Valley for himself and is still thus engaged, but does not enjoy good health. Mr. and Mrs. GOODRICH are the parents of two sons, John and Grover, aged respectively, ten and seven years.
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