DAVID PERKINS GOODRICH
David Perkins Goodrich is an attorney-at-law in
Humeston, with a large clientage, and in his chosen profession
has made that steady advance which results only from merit in
handling important litigated interests. In addition he is
closely connected with the business life of the city, for he
deals extensively in insurance and collections and does a
large amount of notary work.
He is, moreover, one of the most prominent men in the
public life of the community, these connections indicating the
scope of his interests and activities and the force of his
public spirit. Moreover,
he is entitled to mention in this volume as one of the
veterans of the Civil war, to whom the country owes a debt of
gratitude that can never be fully repaid. He was born at
Elba, Genesee county, New York, April 14, 1845, and is a son
of Philo and Polly (Perkins) Goodrich, natives of the Empire
state. Six
children were born to their union, namely: Charles P.,
deceased; Mrs. Esther Farquer, who resides in Humeston; David
Perkins, of this review; Mrs. Martha Mann, of Michigan;
Luther, who died in infancy; and Austin, who resides in South
Dakota. After
the death of his first wife Philo Goodrich married Mrs. Eunice
Goodrich, a widow, who although she bore the same name, was in
no way related to Mr. Goodrich.
They became the parents of six children: Winfield Scott, who
resides in Michigan; Philo, who died at the age of twelve
years; John, deceased; Mrs. Libby Burlin, who has also passed
away; Aaron, residing in New York; and Harrison, deceased.
David P. Goodrich grew to manhood in his native city
and attended the public schools of Genesee county. On the 6th
of December, 1863, he enlisted for the Civil war in Company
L., Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, and served under Generals
Hancock and Meade. He
was present at the battles of Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, and
as a member of the Second Corps, Second Division, Second
Brigade, was sent against General Jubal A. Early. He fought at
Petersburg and Richmond and was in Grant’s headquarters when
the blank salute was fired announcing the surrender of Lee at
Appomattox Courthouse April 9, 1865. Thirty-three of his company returned at
the close of the war, marching over the same ground upon which
they had fought so many battles and lost so many comrades. They journeyed on
to Washington, where they participated in the grand review,
receiving from President Lincoln and from the people of the
nation an expression of a small part of the honor and
gratitude which they had earned on the battlefield. Under general order
No. 158 the Army of the Potomac, of which Mr. Goodrich was a
member, was mustered out with honorable discharge June 30,
1865. Mr.
Goodrich had participated in long hard marches, closely
contested battles and arduous campaigns and finally with a
creditable military record returned to Elba and took up the
duties of private life.
For a number of years he followed farming, remaining in
New York until 1873, in which year he came west and settled in
Richman township, Wayne county, where he has been a continuous
resident since that time.
He arrived here on the 1st of March, 1873,
and for three years following engaged in farming, removing at
the end of that time to Humeston, where he worked at common
labor, building and moving houses. During the administration of President
Harrison he was appointed postmaster of Humeston and served
ably for four years, retiring from office on August 15, 1893. He immediately
afterward resumed his work of building and moving houses and
followed this successfully until 1899, when he formed a
partnership with R. C. Poston in the practice of law, dealing
also in insurance and collections. The partners have secured a gratifying
patronage as a result of their high standards of professional
ethics and their upright business methods and the firm is well
known in the community.
On the 24th of January, 1867, Mr. Goodrich
was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Jane Ames, born in
Byron, Genesee county, New York, June 23, 1843. She grew to
womanhood in the Empire state, acquiring her education in the
common schools. Her
parents were Almond and Sarah (Day) Ames, the former a native
of New York and the latter of Rhode Island, both of whom have
passed away. In
their family were three children: Israel D., of Batavia, New York; Mrs.
Eliza Kendall, of the same city; and Mrs. Goodrich, the wife
of the subject of this review.
Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich became the parents of six
children, all of whom have passed away, the eldest dying in
infancy. The
others were: Addie,
who died at the age of eleven years; Sarah, whose death
occurred when she was eight months old; Herman and Harlo, who
passed away in childhood; and one other child who died in
infancy. Mr.
Goodrich’s first wife passed away in Humeston, June 23, 1900,
and on July 31, 1901, he was again married, his second union
being with Mrs. Emma Laymon, a native of Licking county, Ohio,
born May 12, 1852. She
is a daughter of Andrew Jackson and Philena (Bowers) Davis,
the former born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, February 14, 1830, and
the latter in Knox county, in the same state, April 27, 1831. The Davis family is
one of the oldest in the state of Ohio, for its
representatives came there in pioneer times. The maternal branch
also numbers representatives among the early settlers in the
state, for Mrs. Goodrich’s grandfather, Jess Bowers, was one
of the noted pioneer ministers.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Davis moved from Ohio to
Knoxville, Knox county, Illinois, in 1876 and thence to Mount
Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa, where they resided until 1890,
when they moved to Chariton, in Lucas county. In their family
were the following children:
Charles Wesley, who died in infancy; William, who died
at the age of fifteen; Mrs. Goodrich; Joseph, who died in
infancy; Mrs. Hattie Go, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Mrs. Minnie
Lifenfelter, who died June 13, 1911; Franklin, who passed away
at the age of one year; Charles, who died in infancy; Mrs. Ida
Rumble, of Saskatchewan, Canada; Fred, who makes his home in
Des Moines; John, who resides in Omaha, Nebraska; Joseph, of
Chariton; and Mrs. Maude Downing, of Omaha. Mrs. Goodrich was
the mother of two children by her union with John Laymon,
namely: Mrs. Ida
Neighbor, born in Henry county, Iowa, April 30, 1870, who is
now living in Winterset; and Mrs. Mina Lusher, born July 21,
1872, who resides in Corydon, where her husband is in the
employ of F. M. West.
Mr. Goodrich is well known in local fraternal circles,
holding membership in Wayne Post, No. 137, Department of Iowa,
G. A. R., of which he has been commander. He belongs also to
Fidelity Lodge, No. 228, A. F. & A. M., of Humeston, and
was the first applicant for membership after the removal of
the lodge from Smyrna. He
served as its master for eight years and is today in
possession of the articles of incorporation.
Mr. Goodrich has always given a great deal of his time
to public life and is one of the most able men in official
service in Humeston. For
twenty-six years he has been justice of the peace in Richman
township and has held office continuously with the exception
of two terms. He
has made an excellent record, for during the period of his
service but three cases went to a jury and but one appealed to
a higher court. Mr.
Goodrich has held nearly all of the local offices in the city
and township, including those of constable and mayor of
Humeston, in which latter position he has served for two
years, and is at present serving. He has at all times been interested in
the welfare of Wayne county and has given active cooperation
to many movements for the public good, his efforts being
always effective and far-reaching. Living in this section since 1873, he
has become well known here as a man of tried integrity,
business enterprise and effective public spirit. The spirit which
distinguished him on the southern battlefields has dominated
his life and has been an important element in his continued
success.