Charles Goodyear (politician) explained

Charles Goodyear
Office1:Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
Term Start1:March 4, 1865
Term End1:March 3, 1867
Preceded1:John V. L. Pruyn
Succeeded1:John V. L. Pruyn
Term Start2:March 4, 1845
Term End2:March 3, 1847
Preceded2:Jeremiah E. Cary
Succeeded2:George A. Starkweather
Office3:Member of the
New York State Assembly
from Schoharie County
Term Start3:January 1, 1840
Term End3:December 31, 1840
Alongside3:Seymour Boughton
Predecessor3:Harvey Bliss, George F. Fox
Successor3:Nicholas Beekman, Jacob C. Skillman
Birth Date:April 26, 1804
Birth Place:Cobleskill, New York
Death Date:April 9, 1876 (aged 71)
Death Place:Charlottesville, Virginia
Resting Place:Maplewood Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia
Spouse:Charlotte Seitz Gebhard (m. 1815-1876, his death)
Children:3
Profession:Attorney
Party:Democratic

Charles Goodyear (April 26, 1804 – April 9, 1876) was a banker, attorney, and politician from New York. He was most notable for his service as a United States representative from 1845 to 1847 and 1865 to 1867.

Early life

Goodyear was born in Cobleskill, New York on April 26, 1804, the son of Jared Goodyear and Bede (Ives) Goodyear.[1] He attended Hartwick Academy in Otsego County and graduated from Union College in 1824.[1] He studied law with Henry Hamilton, was admitted to the bar in 1826 and commenced practice with Hamilton in Schoharie, New York.[1]

Start of career

A Democrat, he was Schoharie's town supervisor from 1834 to 1837.[2] In 1840 he also served in the New York State Assembly.[3]

Goodyear was appointed first judge of Schoharie County in February 1843 and served until November 1847.[4]

Tenure in Congress

Goodyear was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served in the 29th Congress (March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847).[5] During this term, Goodyear was a member of the Committee on Invalid Pensions.[5]

He did not run for reelection and resumed the practice of law in Schoharie.[5] In 1852 he established the Schoharie County Bank, of which he was president.[1]

In 1864 Goodyear was again elected to the U.S. House, and he served in the 39th Congress (March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867).[5] His committee assignments during this term included the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions and the Committee on Private Land Claims.[5] He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1866 and resumed the practice of law in Schoharie.[5]

Later career

Goodyear was a delegate to the National Union Convention in 1866 and to the 1868 Democratic National Convention.[5] In 1868 an investment bank in which Goodyear was a partner, Goodyear Brothers & Durand, became insolvent.[6] After liquidating his New York assets and property to help pay the firm's debts, in 1869 Goodyear moved to Charlottesville, Virginia.[7] He practiced law in Virginia and in 1869 received an appointment from Virginia's post-Civil War military government as a justice of the peace for Albemarle County.[8]

Death and burial

Goodyear died in Charlottesville on April 9, 1876,[9] and was interred at Maplewood Cemetery in Charlottesville, Division E, Block 8, Section 7.[10]

Family

In 1835, Goodyear married Charlotte Seitz Gebhard (1815–1887) of Schoharie.[1] They were the parents of three children—Charles A., George G., and Mary.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kirkman, Grace Goodyear . 1899 . Genealogy of the Goodyear family . San Francisco, CA . Cubery & Company . 98–99, 101–102 . Internet Archive.
  2. Book: Roscoe, William E. . 1882 . History of Schoharie County, New York, 1713-1882 . II . Syracuse, NY . Truair, Smith & Bruce . 381 . Google Books.
  3. Book: New York State Assembly . 1840 . Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Sixty-third Session . I . Albany, NY . . 2 . Google Books.
  4. Book: Roscoe, William E. . 1882 . History of Schoharie County, New York, 1713-1882 . I . Syracuse, NY . Truair, Smith & Bruce . 102 . Google Books.
  5. Book: Lanman, Charles . 1887 . Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States . New York, NY . J. M. Morrison . 196–197 . Google Books.
  6. Book: 1869 . In the Court of Appeals: Cases and Exceptions . Albany, NY . The Argus Company . 37–39 . Google Books.
  7. Book: Treese . Joel D. . 1996 . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1996 . Alexandria, VA . GQ Staff Directories, Inc. . 1106 . 978-0-87289-124-1 . Google Books.
  8. News: May 13, 1869 . Military Appointments . . Richmond, VA . 2 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: April 13, 1876 . Letter from Charlottesville: Death of Judge Charles Goodyear . . Richmond, VA . 3 . Newspapers.com.
  10. Web site: Maplewood Inscriptions . Charlottesville.org . City of Charlottesville . Charlottesville, VA . July 19, 2021 . 132.