Person Page - 192

     Moses Goodrich was born on 5 December 1802 at Sempronius, New York.² He was the son of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹ He married first Alma Harris, daughter of Asa Harris, on 6 October 1831.³ He married second Hannah Anderson, daughter of Isaac Anderson, on 31 January 1841.⁴ He resided at Goodrich, Michigan.⁴

     Eunice Goodrich was born on 1 January 1806.¹ She was the daughter of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹ She died on 18 April 1806.¹

     Aaron Goodrich was born on 6 July 1807 at Sempronius, Cayuga County, New York.² He was the son of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹ He married Alice Paris on 10 August 1870.² He died on 24 June 1887 at age 79.²

     Transcribed from Case: "Most of the years of his minority were spent on his father's farm; his education was in part obtained in the common district-school and partly under the tutelage of his parents, both of whom were thorough practical educators of that day; not far from his twentieth year he went into the employment of Isaac W. Skinner of Buffalo, as traveling agent for his extensive iron foundry, where he soon proved himself worthy of a wider field of labor, and in a short time became the junior member of the firm of Skinner & Goodrich. It was while in this position that Judge Wilkinson, recognizing the ability of the firm and fearing its rivalry in business, succeeded, by offering extraordinary inducements, in allying him to his own vast interests. Here he not only distinguished himself in business life, but also in public life - chosen alderman while Judge Wilkinson served as mayor; it was while so engaged that he began the study of law. He eventually severed his connection with this firm and went to Tennessee, finished his course of law, and was admitted to its practice in Dover, Stewart County. He rose rapidly in his profession, and soon took rank among the most prominent of the profession in his adopted State. One prominent characteristic that distinguished him was his originality; he was original in everything; in this he was a tower of strength. He was always active as a politician.
     In 1847-8, he was elected to the legislature of the State, the only Whig who ever represented his district in the halls of legislation. At this time he was nominated presidential elector on the Whig ticket, in opposition to the Hon. Isham G. Harris, ex-governor of the State; was elected; cast his vote for Taylor and Fillmore, for whom he stumped the State. Upon the territorial organization of Minnesota, he was appointed its chief-justice, where for three years he demonstrated great ability as a jurist and constitutional lawyer. On retiring from the bench, he resumed the practise of his profession in St. Paul, where he was regarded as preeminently the foremost jurist of the time. In the organization of Minnesota as a State, he took an active part; when admitted into the Union, in 1858, he, with a majority of the legislature opposed to him in politics, was appointed a member of the commission to revise the laws and prepare a system of pleadings and practice for the State courts; two years later he was made chairman of the commission which prepared a system of pleadings and practice. Judge Goodrich has always opposed what is known as the "code" system of practice, and gave his views on this subject in the introduction to a minority report before the legislature in 1858. The legal student will find it worthy of consultation.
     In politics the Judge was a Whig, but, on the demise of that party, cast his lot with the Republican party; was a delegate to the convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln, but cast his vote for William H. Seward. It is said of him that on September 17, the same year, he appeared on the balcony of the International Hotel at St. Paul, and in one of the best speeches ever made by that gentleman introduced to a vast concourse of people the Hon. William H. Seward; a speech that has become historic, and, says the St. Paul Daily Times, "we hazard nothing in pronouncing it one of the finest specimens to be found in our annals."
     In March, 1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln secretary of legation at Brussels, and served in that capacity eight years. During this period he found time to gratify his literary and more particularly his antiquarian tastes, visiting various parts of of the Eastern continent, none of which he enjoyed more than his visit to Goodrich Castle, from which he brought away with him the views that now adorn this memorial volume. It was during these years while abroad that he gathered the material for a literary work, which produced a very decided sensation when published, in 1874, by D. Appleton & Co., New York, entitled "A History of the Character and Achievements of the so-called Christopher Columbus."
     On his return from Europe, he was again drawn into the vortex of politics. In 1872, sent delegate to the Liberal Republican Convention at Cincinnati, where he cast his vote for David Davis, U.-S. senator from Illinois. During his last ten years he led a retired life, enjoying himself in the seclusion of his home, where he had one of the finest libraries in the country and a rare collection of old and obsolete works collected in Eastern countries. He achieved fame as a scholar, statesman, orator, jurist, and author. Eminently companionable, but never hesitated to express his opinions openly and frankly. Few are the men held in such high estimation as he was in his own city with all classes of men, and few, if any, will be more missed.
     In the month of April, 1849, two men, strangers, met at the white house in Washington, D.C., and were admitted together to President Taylor's reception-room; perceiving that the men were unacquainted, the president said: "Allow me, Mr. Goodrich, to introduce you to Peter Parley; Peter Parley, Mr. Goodrich." An acquaintance was then made that became a bond of friendship most highly prized, and was sundered only by death."³

     Eliza S. Goodrich was born on 12 September 1809.¹ She was the daughter of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹ Her married name was Brigham.¹ She married John Brigham.¹ She died on 8 March 1874 at age 64.¹

     John Brigham married Eliza S. Goodrich, daughter of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹

     Levi William Goodrich was born on 2 August 1811.² He was the son of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹ He married first Olive A. Payne on 19 December 1839.² He married second Sarah C. McBride on 27 March 1851.² He died on 9 February 1876 at age 64.² He resided at Atlas, Michigan.²

     Enos Goodrich was born on 11 August 1813 at Sempronius, Cayuga County, New York.² He was the son of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹ He married Ann Atkins on 26 June 1838.² He resided at Fostoria, Michigan.³

     Transcribed from Case: "His education was that of the common school, limited to a few months during the year, but these were more than duplicated at home under the tutelage of his parents, both of whom were educators. In 1836, he went with his parents to Michigan, where they settled on a farm, near the present village of Goodrich. Here he began his life's work, and to him can the words of the psalmist be literally applied: "A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees." Hundreds of acres of timber have gone down before him and been converted into lumber. While in the full tide of prosperity, fire swept away his mills, and with them thousands of hard-earned capital. He rebuilt his mills and continued his business as before, until he passed it into other hands and settled upon his farm. He had been a resident of the State but ten years when he was nominated to represent his district in the State legislature, and elected, when his own county was overwhelmingly opposed to him in politics.
     The great question of the session was the removal of the State capital to Lansing. He championed the removal, became a leader in the effort, and was successful. So faithful was he in his devotion to the best interests of the State in his legislative capacity, that his name was put in nomination for the State senate, and was almost unanimously elected by the combined votes of the Whigs and Democrats. He was given the chairmanship on the committee on incorporations, one of the most important committees; the record of which attests the ability and faithfulness of the work done. After the close of his public labors at this time, he returned to his farm, as he says, to spend his days in the quiet of his home."⁴

     John S. Goodrich was born on 7 October 1815 at Clarence, Erie County, New York.² He was the son of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹ He died while on his way home from Buffalo, N.Y., to Pontiac, Michigan on 15 October 1851 at Detroit, Michigan, at age 36.²

     Transcribed from Case: "From early boyhood his life was one of marked characteristics; like most other boys of his day he began life on the farm, which pursuit he cheerfully engaged in, but not with a satisfied mind. Very early his physical and mental powers were made to diverge by force of circumstances; manual labor was made the pursuit of one, while the other asserted its right in search after knowledge. Those two divided purposes of life produced such an effect upon his physical system that before the age of twelve years his general health became so impaired that it was found necessary to remove him from all manual labor, and allow him the desired indulgence of his books. At the age of fifteen years he entered Middlebury Academy, where he continued his studies for the following two years, when declining health compelled his retirement for rest and recuperation; positive rest from all mental labor was the injunction, which was strictly obeyed, with the best of results. With improved health he returned to his studies; but he soon passed its curriculum, and was left to himself for further progress. His forte, as a student, was mathematics. He had already traversed Hutton's full course, mastered each subject in detail, and now, when casting about for the future before him, he was advised to take up the study of history. Here his disciplined mind revelled. It was nothing uncommon for him to go over forty pages of closely-printed matter at a single recitation, giving incident and fact in his own language in detail. From the academy he returned home with improved health.
     When in the nineteenth year of his age he entered the law-office of Hon. John T. Bush of Buffalo. How long he remained in this office is not certainly known, but this much is known of him, that the study of the law was not altogether congenial to his taste. It was not the aliment to satisfy his mathematical mind. He accordingly engaged with the Port Huron and Lake Michigan Railroad Company as civil engineer, for the survey of their route across the country, as a means for gratifying his mathematical taste; but the miasma of the swamps and marshes of St. Clair County soon compelled his retirement with a disease that well-nigh cost him his life.
     Regaining his health, he again entered upon the study of law in the office of Hon. Alfred H. Hanscom of Pontiac. This relationship culminated in the firm of Hanscom & Goodrich. As a pleader at the bar, Hanscom was unsurpassed in the State, while, on the other hand, Goodrich rose rapidly as a counsellor, and developed a remarkable ability in preparing "briefs" for cases in court. This combination of strength and ability soon made this law firm one of the first in the State. Eventually, however, the star of Hanscom's popularity began to wane just as it had reached its zenith. As a consequence, Mr. Goodrich became the leading man of the firm, both as counsellor and pleader before the courts. One most remarkable characteristic of the man was his memory; this was evidenced through his whole life, but the culmination of its strength was only realized in his arguments before the courts in his citation of authorities, giving the book, case, and page of his authority, and, if pertinent to his case, would give page after page of his cited authority without an error. In this respect he was the equal of Hon. Edward Everett, whose record as yet is unsurpassed. Death came suddenly at the age of thirty-six years.
     At a meeting of the Detroit bar, a glowing tribute to his character and attainments was pronounced by Chief Justice Whipple, and resolutions passed expressive of their profound esteem and admiration in which he was held by his professional brethren."³

     Reuben Goodrich was born on 28 June 1819.² He was the son of Levi Hamilton Goodrich and Eunice Skinner.¹ He married Eliza Jane Eastman on 1 January 1851.² He resided at Traverse, Michigan.²

     As of 13 September 1811,her married name was Goodrich.¹ Nancy Prentice married Charles W. Goodrich, son of Samuel Goodrich and Honor Whiting, on 13 September 1811.¹ She died in 1859.¹

     William McLean Goodrich was born on 9 January 1813.² He was the son of Charles W. Goodrich and Nancy Prentice.¹ He married Cornelia P. Griswold on 25 December 1835.² He died in 1881.² He resided at New Orleans, Louisiana.²

     Charles Goodrich was born on 13 May 1815.¹ He was the son of Charles W. Goodrich and Nancy Prentice.¹

     Harriet Goodrich was born on 11 July 1818.¹ She was the daughter of Charles W. Goodrich and Nancy Prentice.¹ Her married name was McGee.¹ She married Edward McGee.¹

     Edward McGee married Harriet Goodrich, daughter of Charles W. Goodrich and Nancy Prentice.¹

     Charlotte Goodrich was born on 16 December 1819.¹ She was the daughter of Charles W. Goodrich and Nancy Prentice.¹

     Catharine P. Goodrich was born in October 1821.¹ She was the daughter of Charles W. Goodrich and Nancy Prentice.¹ Her married name was Southmayed.¹ She married Frederic R. Southmayed.¹

     Frederic R. Southmayed married Catharine P. Goodrich, daughter of Charles W. Goodrich and Nancy Prentice.¹

     Mary C. Goodrich was born on 6 November 1823.¹ She was the daughter of Charles W. Goodrich and Nancy Prentice.¹

     As of 2 March 1824,her married name was Goodrich.¹ Eliza Chapman married Edward S. Goodrich, son of John Goodrich and Mabel Smith, on 2 March 1824.¹

     Harriet E. Goodrich was born on 13 April 1825.¹ She was the daughter of Edward S. Goodrich and Eliza Chapman.¹ She died on 23 June 1848 at age 23.¹