Goodell, William, 1792-1878

William Goodell, a religious reformer, was born on October 25, 1792, in Coventry, New York, the son of Rhoda Guernsey and Frederick Goodell. Not having the money to attend college, he worked in various businesses from 1811-1827. However, he tired of that life, and being interested in writing, he decided to be a journalist. He became involved in various reform movements. At first, he focused his efforts on supporting temperance, but in 1833 he switched to the subjects of abolition and civil rights for African Americans. In 1840, he assisted in the formation of the Liberty political party and helped to keep it going even after most members merged with the Free Soil coalition. After the Civil War, he once again concentrated his efforts on promoting temperance and prohibition. Goodell married Clarissa C. Cady of Providence, Rhode Island, in 1823; they had two daughters. The younger one, Lavinia, was the first woman lawyer to be admitted to the Wisconsin bar. The elder, Maria Goodell Frost, was the mother of William Goodell Frost, a president of Berea College in Kentucky. William Goodell died on February 14, 1878, in Janesville, Wisconsin, to which he had moved in order to be near his daughters.

From the description of Papers, 1870?-1946. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 261233178

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