Allegan County MI Archives Biographies.....Goodrich, M.D., Osman D. May 10, 1808 - November 3, 1887
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Norton mnortonco@gmail.com August 29, 2011, 12:58 pm

Source: Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, 1908
Author: Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society

Memorial Report:  Page 115 - 116


ALLEGAN COUNTY

Osman D. Goodrich, M.D.

The subject of this sketch was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York, 
May 10 1808; his parents were Leonard Goodrich and Susanna Dickinson.  Leonard 
Goodrich was a great grandson of Col. David Goodrich, one of the first 
settlers of Kensington (or the great swamp now known as New Britain), 
Connecticut.  Col. David Goodrich’s son Jedediah married Mercy Hooker, their 
son Allen married Rebecca Curtis, their son John Goodrich married Hannah 
Dewey, their son Leonard Goodrich married Susanna Dickinson.  This couple 
moved to New Hartford, Oneida Co., State of New York, from Kensington, Conn., 
in 1800, where Osman D. Goodrich was born to them May 10, 1808, he being the 
fourth child.  Osman D. Goodrich married Emeline Dickinson, of Kensington, 
Hartford Co., Conn., May 15, 1832.  The Doctor graduated at the Berkshire 
Medical Institute, afterwards the Berkshire Medical College (now extinct), in 
1834.  That year he moved to Huron, Ohio, and began the practice of medicine, 
remaining there two years, where he assisted in organizing the first church in 
Huron, and being one of its original members.  In the month of May, 1836, he 
removed to Allegan, Michigan, arriving there on the 15th inst., where he built 
him a comfortable house, being the first practicing physician in Allegan, in 
1843.  Dr. Goodrich received an appointment as farmer to a small band of 
Ottawa Indians, in the northwestern part of Allegan county, and spent one year 
with them, afterwards resuming his medical practice at Allegan.  Owing to 
failing health in 1845 he retired from practice and removed to Berlin, 
Connecticut, and engaged in farming for two years until the building of what 
was then known as the Canal Railroad (built on a bank or tow path of the 
abandoned New Haven & Northampton Canal) by Joseph E. Sheffield of New Haven, 
who employed Osman D. Goodrich as superintendent of division.  He was 
afterwards station agent and paymaster of workmen at Plainville, Connecticut, 
where he removed in 1848,remaining in the employ of the railroad company and 
running the first passenger train as conductor on that road from New Haven to 
Farmington, Connecticut (the writer of these notes being a passenger on said 
first train), in 1851.  Dr. Goodrich moved to New Haven to give his children 
the benefits of more advanced education then country towns furnished, still 
remaining in the employ of the railroad company as passenger conductor (being 
a great favorite with the traveling people all along the route) until 1855, 
when he left the railroad business and returned to Allegan in September of 
that year and continued to reside there until he died Nov. 3, 1887, at the age 
of 79 yrs. 5 mo. and 23 days.  Upon his return to Allegan, in 1855, he 
espoused the principles of homeopathy and was a very successful practitioner, 
being the first homeopathic physician as also the first regular physician of 
Allegan.  He retired from practice the latter years of his life.  He was three 
times married; first, to Emeline Dickinson, May 15, 1832, who died Sept, 30, 
1872, leaving three children; Edward P., of Ypsilanti, Mich.; Osman E., of 
Allegan, and Mary Warner, of Allegan, Mich., all of whom are still living; 
second to Jane E. Shepard, of Allegan, July 7, 1873, by whom he had one child, 
Fanny Ruth, who died Jan. 31, 1879, aged 4 ˝ years.  His second wife died Apr. 
2, 1879.  His third wife was Mrs. Mary L. Warner, to whom he was married May 
10, 1881, and who survives him.

                I have thus given a biographical sketch of a remarkable man, 
one of Allegan county’s first and best citizens, honorably connected with the 
earliest settlers of Connecticut, with the Norts, Curtises, Harts, Dewyes, 
Judds and Standleys (now spelled Stanley), also with the Rev. Hooker, a 
pioneer of Connecticut.  Osman D. Goodrich was a cousin of Samuel Griswold 
Goodrich, known as “Peter Parley,” and editor of Merry Museum, and Chauncey 
Allen Goodrich, who assisted Noah Webster in his Dictionary abridgment, and a 
noted author.  From such stock as above noted, none but good men spring.  
Blessed are they who die in the Lord, their works will follow them.  



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