WILLIAM HENRY GODDARD

 

 

William Henry Goddard, who came to California in the year 1865, was long numbered among the sterling and honored citizens of San Francisco, and here he continued to maintain his home until his death.

 

     Mr. Goddard was born in Gloucester, England, in the year 1845, a son of William H. and Charlotte Goddard, the former of whom died in 1863 and the latter in 1871, their entire lives having been passed in England.  The subject of this memoir acquired his early education in the schools of his native land and was nineteen years of age when, in 1864, he embarked on a sailing vessel and set forth for New Zealand, the voyage having been of fourteen weeks' duration.  After his arrival in New Zealand he worked at the blacksmith trade and was identified also with operations in the gold-mining "diggins."  In the following year, 1873, his adventurous spirit led him still farther away from his native land, for it was in that year that he completed the long voyage from New Zealand to California, he having taken passage on the old vessel known as "Rolling Moses," which stopped about two weeks in Honolulu while en route.  After his arrival in San Francisco Mr. Goddard, a skilled artisan found employment in the Risden Iron Works, an industrial concern of which more specific mention is made on other pages of this work, in the personal memoir of the late Lewis Risen Mead.  The Union Iron Works later numbered Mr. Goddard as a valued employe for a long term of years, and his entire career was marked by earnest and productive industry, as was it also by the integrity of purpose that is indicative of intrinsic nobility of character.  While still a resident of England Mr. Goddard became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in San Francisco he became a charter member of Aurora Court of the Independent Order of Foresters.

 

     The marriage of Mr. Goddard was solemnized in San Francisco, and he and his wife, Rebecca Eliza Goddard, became the parents of nine children, the loved wife and mother having survived her husband by a few years.  Of the children all are living except one, and concerning them the following brief record is offered:  Charlotte Louise resides in San Francisco, and is the widow of John Anderson, who was born and reared is Sweden and who was a young man when he came to the United States.  He was an expert lithographer and followed his trade during virtually his entire active career, his death having occurred at his home in San Francisco on the 15th of April, 1916.  Mr. Anderson is survived by his widow and three children:   Mrs. Clara Louise Owens, John William and Oliver Ray, all of whom reside in San Francisco.  Richard E. Goddard, the second child of the subject of this memoir, is now a resident of Los Angeles.  William Henry (III) died in 1918.  Arthur G. resides in San Francisco.  Mrs. Mary Simmons is a resident of Novato, Martin County.  Mrs. Rebecca Simmons, the next younger daughter, is a resident of San Francisco; Charles resides in the City of Oakland.  James and Alfred remain in San Francisco.

 

[Transcriber's note: Novato is located in Marin County.]