My Genealogy Hound

D. H. GOODENOUGH. In tracing the genealogy of the Goodenough family in America, we find that the first settlers came from England and located in Rhode Island. The grandfather of our subject, Joel Goodenough, was born in that State, but at an early date moved to Chenango County, N. Y. He was then but a small boy, and he grew to manhood there, married and reared a good-sized family. His son Joseph, father of our subject, was born in Chenango County, May 15, 1810, and was there reared and educated. He was married in that county to Miss Mary Tice, a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., born in October, 1811, and the daughter of Daniel Tice, of New York.

After marriage, Joseph Goodenough and wife resided in Chenango County for some time, and in 1846 made their way to Michigan, settling on section 21, Volinia Township. This was all wild timber-land, and in the woods, amid an almost unbroken wilderness, Mr. Goodenough erected a log cabin, in which he and his family resided until 1852, when a substantial frame building was erected. Much time was spent in clearing the land of the heavy timber that covered it, but Mr. Goodenough was persevering and soon had his farm in good shape. In the winter of 1853 he sold out and moved to Center Township, on the same section. He improved this place, erected the buildings now occupied by his grandson Ralph, and here passed the closing scenes of his life. His death occurred in October, 1871, and his wife received her final summons in the spring of 1883. They were the parents of six children, four of whom grew to mature years and two besides our subject are now living: Kelsey and Chauncy. Mr. and Mrs. Goodenough held membership in the Advent Church.

Like many of the prominent men of the county, our subject is a native of the Empire State, born in Chenango County June 25, 1830. He remained in his native State and attended school until fifteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Michigan, in which State for two winters he attended the district school. When twenty-one years of age he started out for himself, and is first venture was to buy land in Volinia Township. On the 22d of February, 1863, he was married in Illinois to Miss Amanda Churchill, a native of Steuben County, N. Y., born March 14, 1841, and the daughter of David Churchill, of DeKalb County, Ill.

Returning to Cass County, Mich., after his marriage, our subject settled on section 27, where he cleared forty acres. Later he moved to the farm on which A. Brown now lives, cleared a part of this, and in about 1871 moved to his present property. His estate now includes one hundred and ten acres, after deeding forty acres to his son, and is in a fine state of cultivation. His fine residence, built in 1882 at a cost of $1,600, is of the best construction and modern design. He has been engaged exclusively in farming, and everything about his place indicates to the beholder that he is progressive and thorough-going. To his marriage have been born six children: Oscar, who married Miss Inez Huff; Cora, who became the wife of Edwin Touchett; Fred; Delia, wife of Coit Miner; Verna and Murl.

Mr. Goodenough is a member of the Latter-Day Saints denomination, taking a deep interest in it. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has been Junior Warden, and he was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Active in politics, he is an ardent supporter of Republican principles, and has been a member of the Board of Review. His children have all received good district-school educations. Mr. Goodenough’s brother. Nelson B., deceased, was prominent in local politics, and held the office of Road Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, etc. The other brother, Chauncy, held the office of Township Clerk. Mrs. Goodenough’s brother, O. C. Churchill, of Chicago, is a prominent lawyer and has his office at No. 124 Dearborn Street.