N. D. GOODELL

N. D. GOODELL, one of the best-known and highly esteemed citizens of Sacramento, has been a resident here ever since August, 1849, when he went into camp under a great oak tree where the car shops now are. He was born April 18, 1814, in Belchertown, Massachusetts, where his father was a well-to-do farmer. At the age of eighteen years he went to Amherst, near by, to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner; after practicing there awhile he spent a year in the same business at Springfield. Returning to Belchertown, he entered the business for himself, with signal success, erecting some of the finest buildings in the place, among others the town hall. After his marriage there he built for himself one of the finest residences in town. He then began the systematic study of architecture, perfecting himself in the art. As a large part of his business lay at Ware village, joining Belchertown, he removed there. Next he took a large contract for building three large factories and several hundred houses for a large cotton-manufacturing firm, and did his work so well that he was retained by them for five years. Setting out from New York, in company with eleven others, he being president of the company, March 29, 1849, on the brig Everett, he arrived at Panama, April 23; was delayed there nearly a month, and then came on to San Francisco, on the little brig Copiaco, arriving here after a tedious voyage of ninety-five days. At first he tried his hand mining and prospecting around Mormon Island, Hangtown and other places, but, meeting was small success, he returned to Sacramento, March 29, 1850, to pursue his favorite calling; and since that date he has been identified with the city's best interests. He then found business lively, buildings going up rapidly, and he obtained work at $16 a day, though not as an architect, for that time the demand was only for cheap and hastily built houses. By the years 1862-'63 the city had so far advanced that a higher order of architecture began to be demanded; and Mr. Goodell built the fine jewelry store of Mr. Wachhorst on J street, from plans of his own design. From that time orders poured in, and the mere list of many structures put up by him would alone fill many pages. Among them are such fine residences as those of James Carolan, John Carroll, Frank Ebner, Theodore Milliken, General Reddington, Albert Gallatin, Charles Scudder and others, at costs ranging from $15,000 to $40,000; also the county hospital, his plans being selected where there was considerable competition. Several hundred of the buildings of the city and vicinity, great and small, are also Mr. Goodell's work, as also some of the more elegant and complete business blocks, such as that of Waterhouse & Lester, the Granger's Hall, Mrs. Gregory's building on Second street, Green and Trainor' s warehouse on Second street, the grammar-school buildings, etc., etc. Mr. Goodell has been a member of the Pioneer Association from the first, a director for twenty years, and its president in 1877-'78 when he secured for the society the, commodious building on Seventh street, which they now occupy and where he has his offices. He is a true type of an American, a champion of free thought and modern reform and is highly esteemed by all classes. He was married May 2, 1838, to Miss Sarah Pease, at Granby, Massachusetts, and they have two daughters. At their golden wedding in 1888, an immense throng of citizens turned out to do honor to the worthy couple.

An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. By Hon. Win. J Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 270-271.

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton.