Wayne-Oakland County MI Archives Biographies.....Goodman, Frederick Alfred 1871 - 1936 ************************************************ 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: Joanne Weimer joannneweimer@yahoo.com October 29, 2007, 8:26 pm Author: Oakland County History U of M on-line BIOGRAPHY: FRED A. GOODMAN. Among the well known and distinctively popular native sons of the fair "City of the Straits" is numbered the subject of this sketch, who is incumbent of a clerkship in the office of the treasurer of Wayne County and who was long identified with hotel interests in his native city. Mr. Goodman was born in Detroit, on thei6th of October, 1871, and is a son of Alfred and Ulenna H. (Bradley) Goodman, the former of who was born in London, England, and the latter in Michigan. Alfred Goodman took up his residence in Detroit in the early '50s and here passed the residue of his long and useful life. In I86I he purchased the hotel known as the Grand River House, at the corner of Griswold street and Grand River avenue. This hotel had been established in I846, by M. Salter, a pioneer boniface of the city. In I868 Mr. Goodman erected a new hotel building on the site of the old house and designated the same the Goodman House. Under this title it was conducted by him individually until I890o, when he admitted to partnership his son, Fred A., subject of this sketch, and they continued to be associated in the management of the hotel until June I, I895, when the father leased the property to Fred Postal and retired from active business. In I897 he built an annex at the rear of the building and later added two stories to the original structure, which was four stories in height. The building is now one of the leading commercial hotels of Detroit, having two hundred guest rooms and being essentially modern in its appointments and equipment. Mr. Postal adopted the title of Griswold House at the time of assuming control and he and his associate, A. E. Morey, now conduct the hotel under that name. This has become a valuable property and represents a large portion of the estate left by Alfred Goodman at his death, which occurred on the I8th of June, I903. He was a man of distinctive business acumen, was genial and kindly and had a host of friends not only in Detroit but among the traveling public. He was a loyal and liberal citizen and merits a place of honor as one of the popular and successful hotel men who have aided in maintaining the prestige of Detroit. His widow is still living, and of their children the only survivor is the subject of this sketch. The daughter, Nellie Jean, became the wife of George C. Waldo, former treasurer of Wayne county, and her death occurred on the I2th of September, I905; she is survived by two children, ---Ulenna H. and Nellie G. Fred A. Goodman was reared to manhood in Detroit, where he has ever maintained his home. He duly availed himself of the advantages of the public schools and was graduated in the Central high school as a member of the class of I889. In the following year, as already noted, he was admitted to partnership with his father in the hotel business, and thereafter he was for the greater portion of the time active manager of the Goodman House until the same was leased to Mr. Postal. His father's health became seriously impaired and from I898 until the death of the latter, in I903, he had the management of the estate, in which capacity he has since continued to serve. In April, I905, Mr. Goodman became a clerk in the office of the county treasurer; his brother-in-law, Mr. Waldo, was county treasurer at the time, having been elected to the office in the preceding January. After the retirement of Mr. Waldo Mr. Goodman continued to serve under his successor, and he has since held the clerkship, being one of the able and valued employees identified with the administration of the county's affairs. In politics he is unwavering in his allegiance to the Republican party, in the promotion of whose cause he has been an efficient worker. Mr. Goodman was one of the charter members of the Detroit Wheelmen, and served two years as a member of the directorate of this popular social organization. He is affiliated with the Detroit Lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and has served as its organist since I897. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity, including Moslem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is affiliated with Kilwinning Lodge, No. 297, Free & Accepted Masons. His popularity in his native city is still further indicated by his membership in the Grosse Pointe Ice Yacht Club and the Detroit Musicians' Club. He has much musical talent and is president and manager of the Schmemann military band, which is one of the best in the state and which has been the official band of the First Regiment of the Michigan National Guard since 1889. On the 3d of May, 1897, Mr. Goodman was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Mackay, daughter of Captain John Mackay, of Goodrich, Ontario, who was for many years identified with the marine service of the Great Lakes. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman have two children, Consuelo and Gwendolyn. Additional Comments: Grandson of Rev Stephen Goodman a Michigan Pioneer Son of Alfred S. Goodman Nephew of Rev John Story Goodman a Michigan Pioneer Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/wayne/photos/bios/goodman869gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/wayne/bios/goodman869gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb