Francis Adam Goodman
Encyclopedia
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
soldier. He was born March 3, 1827 in Rimbach
Rimbach
Rimbach is a municipality in the district of Cham in the Upper Palatinate in Bavaria in Germany.Rimbach is a beautiful little vacation village at the foot of the Hoher Bogen Wiki . In the village is the Baroque 'Church of Saint Michael' built in 1719...
, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany
Grand Duchy of Hesse
The Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine , or, between 1806 and 1816, Grand Duchy of Hesse —as it was also known after 1816—was a member state of the German Confederation from 1806, when the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt was elevated to a Grand Duchy, until 1918, when all the German...
, the son of Wilhelm and Mary (Albrecht) Gutmann. He died 1 February 1898 in Burnips, Michigan (Allegan County
Allegan County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-196* I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.-US highways:* US-31* US-131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-40* M-89* M-179* M-222-Allegan County Intercounty Highways:* A-2* A-37* A-42* A-45-Demographics:...
).
Marriage
He was married on March 5, 1852 to Christina Slagel, daughter of Balthasar and Genovefa (Casper) Schlegel in Marion, OhioMarion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
, and to that union were born eleven children.
Affidavit of Mary Slagel (military pension application #784.354):
"I have known Christina Slagel, formerly Slagel, the above named claimant for fifty-nine years, or ever since she was a small girl. I lived neighbor to her and Francis Goodman, her husband, before and at the time they were married and know that neither of them were married before their marriage to each other and have lived neighbor to them ever since that time, except about eight years when they mooved (sic.) to Michigan, but eight years after they came to Mich. (sic.), I mooved (sic.) to Mich. (sic.) and lived near neighbor since and know they lived together as man and wife until the death of Francis Goodman and know that Christina Goodman has not again married. I am a sister-in-law to the claimant, having married her brother Tobias Slagel in the year 1848." (9 December 1901)
"When Francis & Christina first settled in Allegan Co, Michigan, two miles west of Bunker Hill
Bunker Hill Township, Michigan
Bunker Hill Township is a civil township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,979.-Communities:*Bunker Hill Center is an unincorporated community near the center of the township at ....
, their home had no windows, just one door. Christina hung cloth over the door, but still couldn't sleep because of the howling and noise from all the bears, panthers, foxes, and wolves."http://www.somegeekintn.com/roots/getperson.php?personID=I1250&tree=Main
Affidavit of Lewis R. Heasley (military pension application #759.851):
"For the past five years I have lived within a mile and quarter of her present home, which is a small house and lot near Burnips Corners, it is worth about two hundred and fifty or three hundred dollars, and in my judgement (sic.) the rental value of the property would be from twenty-five to thirty dollars per year, or about ten per cent (sic.) of its cash value." (25 May 1906)
Military
Goodman served as a private in the Ninth Michigan Infantry, Company D during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
(Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
). He was honorably discharged 20 June 1865.
Politics
From
Representative from Allegan countyAllegan County, Michigan-Interstates:* I-196* I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.-US highways:* US-31* US-131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-40* M-89* M-179* M-222-Allegan County Intercounty Highways:* A-2* A-37* A-42* A-45-Demographics:...
in 1881-2-3, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, March 3, 1827. Came to Baltimore in 1830, lived in PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and then in OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, where he was educated. He settled in Salem, Allegan county, Mich.Salem Township, Allegan County, MichiganSalem Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,486 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
, in 1855. Has been supervisor nine years, justice four years, and held other local offices. Served ten months in the 9th Michigan infantry. In politics a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
from "A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Michigan" compiled under the editorial supervision of Dr. Henry F. Thomas, Allegan:
Francis Goodman served two terms in the state Legislature as Representative beginning in 1881 and 1883. His son, Wm. H. Goodman served two terms and county Treasurer beginning in 1893 and 1895.
Biography
(source: biography from "Portrait and Biographical record of Kalamazoo, Allegan and Van Buren Counties, Michigan," published by Chapman Bros., Chicago in 1892)"This prominent and respected resident of Salem Township, Allegan Co. is living retired from the active duties of life on his beautiful farm of one hundred and 20 acres (80,937.2 m²), on section 18. His estate bears all the modern improvements, and by a proper rotation of crops, has been brought to a high degree of cultivation. He has erected the various buildings on his place which best subserve the purpose of a first class agriculturalist, and is ranked among the well-to-do citizens of Allegan County.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is the son of William and Mary E. (Albright) Goodman, natives of Germany, where our subject was born March 3, 1827. Three years later, his parents emigrated to America and located in Franklin Co., PA
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
, near the village of Waynesboro. There the father rented a farm for two years, after which he purchased 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land at the foot of the mountains, which he made his home the succeeding six years. He then came west to Richland Co., Ohio
Richland County, Ohio
Richland County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 124,475. It is included in the Mansfield, Ohio, Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Mansfield–Bucyrus Combined Statistical Area....
, and after a residence there of two years, removed to Marion Co., the same state, where he erected a log house, and improved his land. Eight years later, he sold his property and removed to Crestline, Ohio where he remained twelve months and in 1853 came to Allegan Co., Michigan, where he entered a half-section of land from the government. He made that tract of land his home the remainder of his life and died August 18, 1882 ant the age of eighty-three years. His good wife followed him, a few years later, to the better land, passing away in 1886 aged eighty four years.
The grandfather of Francis Goodman was a native of Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
, and served under Napoleon during his Russian campaign never returning. It is probable that he perished in the snows on their retreat from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. His widow moved over the line into Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where she reared her only child--our subject's father.
Mr. Goodman, of this sketch, was only given limited educational advantages. He aided in the erection of the first store building in Crestline, Ohio
Crestline, Ohio
While the Census Bureau recognizes Crestline as a village, its 2000 population of 5,088 makes it a city under Ohio law.Crestline operates under a mayor-council system, with a council of eight members...
. March 5, 1852 he was happily married to Christina Slagel, daughter of Balthaster Slagel. Mrs. Goodman was a native of the Fatherland, and at the time of the marriage to our subject was residing in Marion Co., Ohio. Their union has been blessed by the birth of eleven children: Mary Ann, William H., Elizabeth, David J., Loretta, Caroline S., Katy, Maggie, Francis A., Savilla, & Joseph W. Mary Ann married Lewis Moomey and makes her home in Salem, Allegan Co.; William H. married Alice Hartman and resides at Burnips Corners where he is engaged in conducting a general store; Elizabeth, Mrs. Lyman Baker, is also a resident of Salem; David who is unmarried, is assisting in the general store at Burnips Corners; Loretta, Mrs. Nahum Snook, lives in Grand Rapids; Caroline S. married Luther Johnson and the make their home in Salem Township; Katy became Mrs. Noble Moored and lives at Grand Rapids; Maggie, who is unmarried is a dressmaker in Grand Rapids; Francis A. is also single and with Savilla, resides with the parents; and Joseph W., who married Lucy Fleser, and is a farmer.
In politics, the Hon. Francis Goodman is an influential member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He has been honored by his fellow-townsmen by being elected to various offices of trust and responsibility within their gift, serving as Supervisor of Salem Township for ten terms.
He also was Commissioner and Justice of the Peace, serving in the latter office two terms. He was nominated on the Republican ticket, to represent the Second District in the State Legislature, and was elected over his opponent Theodore Castor, a Union candidate, by a majority of three hundred and sixty nine. While in that body, he served on the Committee of the Horticultural and Agricultural College. He was re-elected to the same office in the fall of 1882, over Henry E. Blackman
Henry E. Blackman
Henry E. Blackman served in the offices of Allegan County Superintendent of the Poor, Allegan County Drain Commissioner, Trowbridge Township Supervisor, and Justice of the Peace under the banner of the National Party. The highest office he held was that of State Representative in the Michigan...
, a Union candidate, and during that term was Chairman of the Committee on Horticulture and State Institutions. Since that time he has not been active in politics.
During the late war (Civil) our subject enlisted in Company D, Ninth Michigan Infantry, his regiment being sent to join the Army of the Cumberland. He served bravely in the defense of his country until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge, June 20, 1865.
In 1853, or subject purchased the land on which he resides, and, starting out in life with nothing but strong hands and a determination to win a competency, he has made a success of his undertaking, as he is one of the prominent and well-to-do residents of the County. Socially, the Hon. Mr. Goodman is a member of Salem Lodge No. 169, I.O.O.F., in which order he is Past Noble Grand. He is one of the oldest settlers in Salem Township, and is greatly honored and respected in his community."