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Alexander Nelson Goodrich

"Alexander Nelson Goodrich is one of the very earliest pioneers of Fayette where he has resided since the spring of 1865 <sic>. He is a carpenter and joiner by trade and aided in the erection of the first building on the town plat. Both in the line of his trade and in other ways he has aided materially in the upbuilding and progress of this part of the county and well deserves a representation in its history.

Mr. Goodrich is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred on August 2, 1829, in Brooklyn, Susquehanna County. His parents were Eli B. and Cynthia (Tiffany) Goodrich. The father was born in South New Berlin, Chenango County, N. Y., August 27, 1802, was of English descent and his ancestors settled in New England during its early history. His death occurred December 22, 1864, having survived his wife sixteen years. She was born in Brooklyn, Pa., July 22, 1806, was a daughter of Alfred and Lucy (Miller) Tiffany, and died on July 20, 1848.

The subject of this sketch spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native State, where in the common schools he acquired his education and served a regular apprenticeship to the carpenter and joiner's trade. He spent one year in Madison County, N. Y., and one in Chautauqua County, and in October, 1854, sought a home in the West, traveling toward the setting sun until he arrived in Auburn, Fayette County, Iowa. There he located and operated a mill until the 27th of April, 1855, when he came to Fayette, where he has since resided, covering a period of thirty-five years. He was married in Erie County, Pa., December 31, 1855, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Ann James, daughter of Oliver and Emily (Lee) James, and a native of Erie County, Pa., born August 22, 1832. Her parents were natives of Vermont, and her father was of English lineage, while her mother was of Scotch descent. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich, a daughter, Hattie Eva, who was born in Fayette, Iowa, September 7, 1857. She is now the widow of Cyrus Bent, and is the mother of two children, sons, Arthur Henry, aged seven years; and Freddie Leonard, aged five. Mrs. Goodrich and her daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In politics Mr. Goodrich is a Democrat and has served two terms as a member of the Fayette Town Council. He is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of Pleiades Lodge, No. 448, A. F. & A. M.; of Ansel Humphreys Chapter, No. 80, R. A. M.; and of Langridge Commandery, No. 48, K. T. He represented the last named at the Triennial Conclave at Washington in October, 1889. Mr. Goodrich is the owner of a fine, well improved farm of one hundred and thirty acres which is situated about one and a half miles south of Fayette, which has been in his possession since 1865 <sic>. He has been prominently identified with the growth and progress of Fayette from the time of the erection of the first building on the plat up to the present, and is now employed on the construction of the college chapel. He helped build the original building of the Fayette Seminary, now the Upper Iowa University and has worked on all the buildings of that institution subsequently erected. He has led an active and useful life and is still well preserved for a man in his sixty-second year. His life for the past thirty-five years is well known to his fellow citizens of Fayette whose respect and esteem he has won and retains.