My Genealogy Hound

HORACE P. GOODRICH, now far advanced in years, and ripe in an experience that has covered a vast range of interests, is an esteemed resident of the village of Cortland, and one of the county’s sterling citizens. As a farmer, a business man, a dealer in the products of this region, a railway superintendent, a land-holder, and a financier, he has sought to fulfill the demands of his career, and right well has he attained his aim. Few men have had more to do with the advancement of any region, than has Mr. Goodrich with this, his adopted section.

Mr. Goodrich was born at Pittsfield, Mass., March 16, 1813. His parents were Levi and Wealthy (Whitney) Goodrich, of whom the father was a native of Norfolk, Conn.

Levi Goodrich was during his life a general contractor and builder. He did a large amount of railroad construction, but toward the end of his life he spent most of his time in cultivating the soil in his Berkshire home. He and his wife were both of pure English ancestry. They both departed this life in Massachusetts, the father at eighty-three, and the mother at seventy-two. Their children numbered nine and were as follows: Noah W.; Horace P., our subject; Milton G.; Mary; Harriet; Caroline; Anna; Lucy; and Abby, who died while still in tender years.

Horace P. Goodrich followed agricultural pursuits in his native state until he was twenty-seven years of age. About 1840, he came to Cortland, and entered upon a mercantile career, which he followed for fifteen years. During that time he was in the dry goods business, under the firm name of Pomeroy & Goodrich; later alone in the boot and shoe trade; and still later was a member of the firm of Mills & Goodrich, hardware dealers. He had also, early in his business life, commenced buying wool, and so well did he succeed that when the wool raising industry was in its prime in Central New York, he was the heaviest buyer in this famed section. He was also a heavy buyer of cattle and hogs and a drover, sending his herds to the markets of Albany and Boston. He had still another interest of importance, and this was a stage line to Syracuse, Ithaca and Canastota, which he owned for ten years. He also had an extensive livery establishment in connection with his stage business. When the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira R. R. was built through this region, Mr. Goodrich had charge of and personally superintended the construction. When the road was completed he became its first superintendent, and so continued until the road changed hands. He was, besides all this, one of the original promoters of the Cortland Rural Cemetery, and has been president, vice-president, treasurer, and is now vice-president of the Association, and has been a trustee since its organization. This Association has accomplished a work of which its supporters may well feel proud. Mr. Goodrich has in his late years been quite a builder, and has done very much to improve Cortland’s appearance. He has erected twenty model tenement houses, of which he now retains the ownership of several. He has also erected the beautiful residence which he makes his home. In all the movements which were designed to carry the village ahead he has been liberal and active. Since the formation of the Republican party, Mr. Goodrich has been a stanch adherent of its principles, though before that time he was a Democrat of prominence. As to matters religious, our subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The faithful wife of Mr. Goodrich was, before marriage, Miss Mary E. Mills, a daughter of Myron L. Mills of Onondaga County, N. Y. She was born in 1819, and departed this life in 1895. To them was born one son, Horton Mills Goodrich, who died April 2, 1852, a lad of five years of age. They adopted a boy, but he, too, was taken at the age of eighteen; his name was Charles P. Meracle, and he died January 6, 1866.

Mr. Goodrich is at this writing a very active man. His constitution has been of the kind that has enabled him to go through all kinds of hardship and toil without showing their effects. His present affluent position is due to thrift and good business methods, founded upon honesty and uprightness. Few men so completely hold the confidence and esteem of the public as does he, and his standing is certainly well merited. He is now directly interested in many of Cortland’s best enterprises, and holds the office of vice-president of the Cortland Savings Bank, an institution of incalculable value to the citizens of the village of Cortland and the surrounding towns. Mr. Goodrich was one of the original subscribers to the bonds of the Traction Company to provide means for the completion of that enterprise.