Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Goodrich, Nelson 1844 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 7, 2007, 1:18 am

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

NELSON GOODRICH. Among the prominent and representative pioneer families of
Genesee County, none are more worthy to be presented to the notice of our
readers than the Goodrich family. Nelson Goodrich, who is the present head of
the family, resides on section 29, Atlas Township. He is a native of this county
and was born July 23, 1844. He is a son of Moses and Hannah (Anderson) Goodrich,
both natives of New York. Moses Goodrich, father of our subject, was born in the
Empire State in 1802 and was there reared to manhood. He had rather a limited
education which he acquired by home training, his father having been a school
teacher of fine reputation.

  The first wife of Moses Goodrich died in her native State and in 1836 our
subject's father with his brother, Levi Goodrich, emigrated to Genesee County,
Mich., coming the entire distance with two yoke of oxen through Canada; they
were seventeen days en route. All surviving members of his family were brought
with him. There were six Goodrich brothers and among them they purchased one
thousand acres of land. Moses Goodrich settled on section 29, Atlas Township, on
the farm now owned by his son and our subject.

  The place was very new at the time of the early settlement of the family here
and their home was made in the woods. Moses Goodrich was twice married and of
the children born to him the following survive: George, Eugene and Nelson. He
held some of the minor offices of his township during his life here, his decease
occurring September 10, 1887. His second wife died March 31, 1885. He has been
successful in life and was one of the representative pioneers of the township.
He was a Democrat in politics and sanctioned all measures that promised to be to
the advantage of the district in which he lived.

  The original of this sketch was reared to manhood in this county and knows
what it is to get up in the morning and after taking care of the oxen, follow
the plow from morning till night, and in the winter make the woods resound with
the swinging blows of his ax. He used the first pair of horses, and broke them
too, that his father ever owned. He received his education in the district
schools of the township. He was first married December 1,1866, his bride being
Miss Emeline Swart, a native of Lapeer County, and a daughter of Jacob and Nancy
Swart, early settlers of that county. By this union there was born one
daughter—Mary A. Mrs. Emeline Goodrich died December 23, 1881.

  Mr. Goodrich was again married December 29, 1883, the lady of his choice being
Mrs. Emily Goodrich, widow of the late Joseph Goodrich, and daughter of Jonathan
and Olive (Cobb) Frost, the parents having been early settlers in Genesee County
and coming to Atlas Township in 1836. She was born June 23, 1847. Her parents
are both deceased. Her father by his first marriage had six children, of whom
four are living. They are Ettie, now the widow of C. I. Horton; Rhoda, Mrs. W.
H. Putnam; the wife of our subject, and Jenny, Mrs. Dr. J. B. Bradley.

  In his political affiliation Mr. Goodrich is a Democrat. He is now serving as
the Deputy Oil Inspector of the Eleventh District. He is a member of the Knights
of the Maccabees. His farm comprises two hundred and eighty acres of well-tilled
and productive land. He makes a specialty of breeding good horses. The thriving
village of Goodrich was appropriately named in honor of the family to which our
subject belongs, they having been among the earliest and most enterprising
settlers. His fine farm and comfortable rural home are among the best in Atlas
Township and command the admiring attention of the most casual observer.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/bios/goodrich907gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/

File size: 4.5 Kb