BIO: Benjamin K. Goodyear, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                            CHAPTER XXXVIII.

                          BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

375   BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

  BENJAMIN K. GOODYEAR, deputy clerk and recorder, Carlisle, is a 
native of Cumberland County, born in Shippensburg December 25, 1836, a 
son of David and Anna (Kenower) Goodyear, both natives of South 
Middleton Township, Cumberland County; former a pump manufacturer, who, 
in 1840, moved to Adams County, where he opened a hotel at Graeffenburg 
Springs.  They had nine children:  Mary A., wife of Oliver P. Melhorn, 
an engineer, killed at Middletown by an explosion in tube works; Regina 
C., married to G. E. W. Sharretts, a clerk in the treasury department 
at Washington, D. C., since 1856; Benjamin K.; Naoma J., married Joseph 
S. Ewry, a business man of Lafayette, Ind.; Corella E., widow of Jacob 
Weigle, who was a blacksmith and machinist; Cordella R., wife of 
William Wormley, a merchant of Lafayette, Ind.; Eliza, deceased; 
Hadessa, wife of William Barber, a farmer near Martinsburg, W. Va.; 
Henrietta F., unmarried and residing at Shippensburg.  Benjamin K., 
until sixteen years of age, attended school in Adams County and in the 
city of Lancaster; then spent two years in the preparatory department 
of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster.  He then began the study 
of law in the office of Stumbaugh & Carlisle, at Chambersburg, and was 
there admitted to the bar in 1861.  That same year he went to Carlisle, 
was admitted to the courts of the county in November, and continued 
practice until August, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company 
A, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry; was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 
13, 1862, by a gunshot in the right shoulder, which caused a compound 
fracture of the clavicle.  He was sent to Point Lookout Hospital, 
Maryland, where he remained three weeks, and was two months at Stanton 
Hospital, Washington, D. C.  In April, 1863, he was mustered out of the 
service and returned to Cumberland County, where he engaged in teaching 
school until the spring of 1864.  He then assisted in raising Company G 
of the Two Hundred and Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
in which he enlisted in August, 1864 (refusing to accept a commission), 
and remained in the service until the close of the war.  After that he 
was for a time engaged in teaching school at Shippensburg, and for 
three

376  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

years acted as agent for the Adams Express Company at that place; then 
came to Carlisle, and was appointed deputy sheriff under James K. 
Foreman, serving as such until 1874.  In that year he moved to Pine 
Grove Furnace, and took charge of the company's store for the South 
Mountain Iron Company, where he remained until the works closed in 
November of that year; then located in Shippensburg, and, in connection 
with his brother-in-law, Samuel R. Murray, established the Democratic 
Chronicle, which they conducted until 1878, when Mr. Goodyear purchased 
his partner's interest, and some two months later disposed of the paper 
to Alonzo P. Orr.  From January 1, 1877, until January 1, 1880, Mr. 
Goodyear acted as deputy to D. H. Gill, then sheriff of the county; at 
the expiration of which time he took charge of the Antietam Iron Works 
near Sharpsburg, Md., serving in that capacity until April 1, 1884.  He 
next took charge of the Codorous Flint Mill, in York County, until 
September 15, 1884, when the property changed hands, and he returned to 
Carlisle.  January 5, 1885, he was appointed deputy clerk and recorder 
under John Zinn, which position he still holds.  December 24, 1868, Mr. 
Goodyear was married to Cecelia F. Steinman, of Shippensburg, a native 
of that place, and a daughter of Adolphus Steinman.  The children of 
our subject and wife are William A., Anna M. and Oro B.  Mr. Goodyear 
is a member of Cumberland Lodge, No. 90, I. O. O. F., of Shippensburg, 
and a member of Capt. Colwell Post, No. 201, G. A. R.  Mrs. Goodyear is 
a member of the German Reformed Church of Shippensburg.  Our subject 
never identified himself with any Church.