Crawford-Linn County IA Archives Biographies.....Goodrich, Isaac B. 1804 - 1881
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Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1893)

ISAAC B. GOODRICH, deceased, one of the earliest pioneers and most prominent men
of Crawford county, Iowa, was born in New York State, in October, 1804, son of
Philander Goodrich, a descendant of one of the old families of New England. He
was reared in his native State, and was there married to Miss Margarett Gamble.
Following are the names of their children: Luzina, deceased wife of S. B. Greek;
Sabina, wife of Edmund Howorth, living near Dow City, Iowa; Adaline, deceased
wife of J. Munson; Leverett C., more extended mention of whom appears below;
Tulley, deceased; William, a resident of Denison; Oscar, who lives in this
county; Rufus, who resides at the old homestead; Milo, a resident of Nebraska;
and two, Philander and Manirva, who died in infancy. Soon after his marriage,
Mr. Goodrich, in company with a friend, went on a prospecting tour to Montana,
walking the whole distance, both taking their rifles with them. After exploring
the Yellowstone valley, they went back to New York, returning as they had
gone—afoot. They followed the Indian trails, and crossed the larger streams in
bark canoes. Not long afterward Mr. Goodrich started West with his little
family, stopping, however, a number of times before he reached Iowa. He lived
three years in Ohio, two in Pennsylvania, five in Michigan, three in Wisconsin,
and seven in Illinois. Leaving Illinois, he came to Iowa, locating first in Linn
county, and in October, 1854, coming to Crawford county. He was the first to
enter land in this county, and Goodrich township was named in honor of him. On
this farm, 290 acres, he made his home and spent the residue of his life. His
cabin, 14 x 20 feet, was the first shingled house in the county. This was
located on an eighty-acre tract in Milford township. In 1855-'56 he and his sons
got out logs and built the house, which still stands on the old farm in Goodrich
township. In 1855-'56 the first election in the county was held at Mason's
grove, and Mr. Goodrich was elected School Fund Commissioner, which position he
filled until the office was abolished. At the time Mr. Goodrich came to this
county he wanted to enter a tract of timber land, but had much opposition from
those already here, who feared he would enter it only for speculation. As a
guarantee of good faith on his part to become an actual settler, he was asked to
purchase a yoke of oxen, some sheep and a cow, and leave them until he returned
with his family, which he did, thus securing the timber land. He was engaged in
farming all his life, with the exception of some time in Michigan, when he
worked on the railroad, and a period spent in the lumber woods of Wisconsin. In
politics, he affiliated with the Democratic party. For a number of years he
served as County Supervisor of Crawford county, and in that capacity rendered
efficient service. Reared a Baptist, he was a liberal supporter of all religious
institutions. He died in 1881, and his good wife passed away in April of the
following year.

  Leverett C. Goodrich was born in Michigan, April 17, 1838, and came to
Crawford county with his father and the other members of the family. His early
life being passed on the frontier where schools were few, his education was
necessarily very limited, but, by close observation, he has secured a fund of
knowledge that enables him to attend to any business that devolves upon him.

  April 27, 1865, he married Miss Rachel Turman, who was born in La Fayette
county, Wisconsin, June 9, 1843, daughter of John and Manirva (Sea) Turman, who
were among the early settlers of Iowa. Her mother died in Woodbury county, April
18, 1880; her father at her home in Denison, March 29, 1891.

  After his marriage Mr. Goodrich located on a tract of forty-five acres of
unimproved land in Denison township, and at once began the work of improvement.
The second year he built a frame residence with lumber he hauled from Boone.
This house, 14 x 22 feet, with a lean-to, 10 x 22, and a good brick cellar, was
considered a very comfortable residence in those days. Subsequently, as his
means would allow, he erected granaries, barns, a hennery, etc. He now has cribs
sufficient to 6tore 12,000 bushels of ear corn, and 4,000 bushels of shelled
corn. In 1876 the primitive dwelling gave place to an elegant residence, built
at a cost of $3,000. He had increased his landed estate here to 400 acres, but
has disposed of it all except ninety acres. He has been extensively interested
in farming and has also handled a large amount of stock, having facilities for
sheltering 400 head of cattle. In April, 1891, Mr. Goodrich moved to Denison,
and has since resided here. He owns considerable city property, including
thirteen lots and three houses, and has 221 acres of land near Denison.

  Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich have three children, viz.: Delia, wife of C. Dier, of Le
Mars, Iowa; Margaret M., wife of George De Wolf, of Iowa Park, Texas; and Jesse
L., at home.

  He is a stanch Democrat, and his wife, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF 
Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa.

Containing Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States, with
accompanying Biographies; a Condensed History of Iowa, with Portraits and
Biographies of the Governors of the State; Engravings of Prominent Citizens of
the Counties, wth [sic] Personal Histories of many of the Early Settlers and
Leading Families.

"Biography is the only true history."—Emerson.

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


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