Ezra Goodrich, for many years a resident of Milton Junction, passed away at his late residence January 1, 1916. For many months he had been in failing health and his friends looked for death to end the pain of the malady from which he suffered so long.
Mr. Goodrich was born at Alfred, Allegany Co., N. Y., February 24, 1826, the only son of Joseph and Nancy Maxson Goodrich. Mr. Goodrich has a clearly defined line of descent from William Goodrich who was one of the Pilgrims from England, who also was a lineal descendant of the founder of "Goodrich Court" of the feudal ages.
In January 1839, Joseph Goodrich decided to try the fortunes of the west which was being opened up and settled largely by easterners. The section of New York state from which the Goodriches came was a pioneer region so that when settlers emigrated from that portion of the state to Wisconsin, it was only to locate amidst conditions with which they were already familiar.
The fates seemed to be against that party of twelve which emigrated from Alfred. The trip was made in the midst of rigorous cold weather, the snow in places being four feet deep. The overland route made traveling slow and extremely difficult. Snow, slush, deep mud, intensely cold weather were obstacles that tested the mettle of the strongest men. After more than a month's journey the party arrived at Prairie du Lac, now Milton, March 4, 1839.
As a boy Ezra had to take a hand in the maintenance of the home and to do his share in the manual labors incident to the development of a new country. Thus he was largely denied the benefits of public schools. As he says in his autobiography, "his education was of the rough and ready sort such as he gathered up in practical life." This in a measure accounts for those qualities which were dominant in his after life. He was a man of strong convictions, self-reliant and persistent. Two incidents of his early life may be used to illustrate the last quality. Soon after his father came to Milton Ezra was sent out in search of food for the family. He was gone so long that his mother became worried about him as there were dangers from wild beasts and the Indians which beset his way. But his father said, "Do not worry, Ezra has gone out to secure food and he will not return until he has found it." He did find it but not until he had searched for it at Ripon, Beaver Dam and Appleton.
When Mr. J. C. Carr was born, one of the first white children born in Rock County, Ezra was sent to Fort Atkinson to bring the doctor. On his arrival at the Fort he found to his dismay that the doctor had gone to Lake Mills. There Ezra hastened as fast as the bad roads and swollen streams would permit and found the doctor. But the latter hesitated about taking so long a journey under such uninviting conditions. Ezra insisted, however, and even led the way in fording seemingly impassable streams. He successfully accomplished his mission.
Mr. Goodrich was a public spirited person, who was actively interested in the public enterprises of the township and county. His father had given generously of land for the cemetery, the Seventh-day Baptist church and a public square. Ezra continued that public spirit in the interests of good roads, a central high school and various other beneficent enterprises.
He was deeply interested in the formation and maintenance of Milton College, in 1854 raising the original stock for Milton Academy, one of the pioneer educational institutions of the west and subscribed heavily to the fund. In 1868, upon finding the institution, then advanced to the status of a college, in financial difficulties, Mr. Goodrich again came forward and volunteered relief. Having just completed a new residence, he evolved the plan of holding a big house warming to which he invited the whole community, keeping secret his intentions of calling upon his friends and neighbors for subscriptions for the benefit of the college. There were three hundred guests at the event, all of whom were served at supper at tables seating one hundred and fifty at one time. The supper was followed by music and singing, after which Mr. Goodrich announced the condition of the Milton school and his purpose to raise a subscription among the guests. Other speakers were called upon and Mr. Goodrich opened the list with a gift and a bequest amounting in all to $2,300. The result was that $8,000 were raised on the spot and within a week it had been increased to $13,000, of which $5,000 was for a permanent endowment fund.
The citizens of the township honored themselves at the time of the harvest festival one year ago at Milton Junction when they presented Mr. Goodrich with a gold headed cane as an appreciation of his foresight and work as the "Father of good roads."
Mr. Goodrich religiously was of the Seventh-day Baptist faith and for a time was a member of the Milton Church.
He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth L. Ensign of Binghamton, N. Y. Four children were born to them, Joseph C. of Milton, William H., who died March 17, 1915, Mary E. Post, wife of Dr. G. W. Post of Chicago, and Anna S. Davis, the deceased wife of Wm. Davis of Milton. On October 16, 1903, he was married to Mrs. Charlotte Morgan-Little of Milton Junction, who survives him. Funeral services were held at the Milton Seventh-day Baptist church, conducted by Rev. Henry N. Jordan, who was assisted at the house by Rev. Webster Millar and at the church by Dr. W. C. Daland. Burial was in the Goodrich plot in the cemetery at Milton.
Those from out of town who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Bliss, Wauwatosa; Dr. Geo. W. Post Sr., Dr. Geo. W. Post Jr., Chicago; Mrs. L. P. Knowlton, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Knowlton, Waterloo; Mrs. Mattie Brand, Mrs. Farmer, Lake Mills; Mrs. Theo. Vandermark, Rockford; Carl Sheldon, Albion; Att'y E. D. McGowan, Janesville.
