GOODRICH BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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GOODRICH, Ezekiel S. - b: 1818 Madison Co, NY
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 640
residence: Tebo Twp

Ezekiel S. Goodrich, farmer and stock raiser, was born October 23, 1818, in 
Madison County, New York, and was the son of Josiah Goodrich, born September 2, 
1789, in Vermont, and Hepswath (Lovell) Goodrich, born December 15, 1786, also 
in that state. They were married in November, of 1810, and had eleven children, 
of whom five are living. In the spring of 1816 they emigrated from their native 
state, and Mr. G. took up an Indian lease from the Stockbridge tribe, in 
Stockbridge, Madison County, New York, 100 acres, which he improved and 
ultimately bought. He remained there until 1827, when he sold it, and purchased 
ninety acres of the same tribe, which he also improved. After living upon it for 
several years he again sold out and removed to Vernon, Oneida County, but two 
years later disposed of this property and bought fifty acres, upon which he made 
his home until 1844. Selling it, he emigrated to Wisconsin, while it was still a 
territory. They obtained a tract of 160 acres, in Oakland, Jefferson County, and 
there Mr. G. died October 2, 1865. He had been for a long time in feeble health, and 
was found dead in his bed one morning. He had lived for years with his son Ezekiel 
S. The subject of this sketch married Miss Lucinda Goodrich, daughter of Charles 
and Clarisa Goodrich, of Oakland, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, December 30, 
1852. They had eight children, of whom there are six living, three sons and three 
daughters. Emily, who died at the age of 15, was born October 12, 1853. Nancy G. 
was born December 1, 1854, and died December 25, 1881. Lillian G. was born 
October 30, 1857, at home. Lucinda and Clarinda, twins, born July 5, 1859. Henry 
Charles born October 6, 1863. Hall G. born July 11, 1867, and Perry Leigh was 
born May 3, 1876. Mr. Goodrich, in 1850, in company with five others, started 
from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, on an overland trip for the gold regions of 
California. In the outstart they provided themselves with two good wagons and 
seven horses and, although laying in a large supply of feed and provisions, were 
compelled to leave two of their horses in the midst of the great desert, between 
Humboldt and Carson River, from want of food and water. They took, in starting 
1,000 pounds of hard tack, designed for horse feed, but finding many perishing 
emigrants along the route at these points divided their substance among them to 
prevent starvation. They succeeded in reaching the summit of the Sierra Nevada, 
and there, partaking of their very last meal of supplies, were met by a train sent 
out from Sacramento with supplies of relief for the perishing ones behind them. 
They reached their destination unaided, and went to work to carve out their 
fortunes. At Hangtown the party separated. Mr. Goodrich taking one of them, Joel 
Ives, as partner, started with the two remaining horses for Sacramento, at which 
place they arrived on the 15th day of July, 1850, after five months wearisome 
travel. The five reached their destination, with one more who had joined the 
expedition at St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Goodrich and Mr. Ives worked until August, 
when the latter sickened and died. Mr. G. remained but little more than a year, 
establishing a ranch and keeping supplies for miners, in connection with his 
other business. He bade farewell to the land of gold about the middle of 
November, 1851, taking homeward passage on a sail vessel for San Juan, on the 
Nicaragua route, arriving at New York about the 20th of January. Upon reaching 
his home in Wisconsin he resumed farming on the old place, where he remained 
until 1869, when he sold his property in Wisconsin and made arrangements for a 
permanent home in Missouri. In that year he bought a portable saw mill and 
erected it on the Tebo, near Calhoun, which he operated for about eight years. In 
1871 he bought eighty acres of land near Calhoun, and moving his family settled 
upon it, still continuing to operate the mill until 1878, He then built a grist mill 
in Calhoun, which he still owns, in company with a partner, the style of the firm 
being Goodrich & Medberry. It is the only grist mill in the place. He now has 160 
acres of beautiful farm, with fine buildings, and is one of the leading farmers of 
his neighborhood. His politics are Republican. He has one son connected with the 
Presbyterian Church of Calhoun.

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