HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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CHARLES B. GODFREY, pioneer farmer, Burlington Township, Kane County, born in Vermont, June 26, 1839; came with his parents to Illinois when only six months old. His father purchased a 200-acre farm in Burlington Township, of which Charles B. took possession at the time of his father's death in 1857, conducted farming operation very successfully, adding to the original tract, until his holdings embraced 600 acres; retired from active farm life in 1898. Mr. Godfrey was married in 1865 to Miss Mary Atkins, and they became the parents of five children.
ALPHONSO L. GODING, retired merchant and farmer, Elburn, Kane County, born at Livermore, Oxford County, Me., April 12, 1828, son of Jonas and Patience (Hathaway) Goding, both of English ancestry. When about fifteen years of age he removed with his parents to Brighton, Mass., and in the public schools of that State completed his education begun in Maine. His first business experience was in the grocery trade in New York City, after which he engaged in buying and improving real estate in Massachusetts. Having met with business reverses about 1860, he determined to remove to Chicago; but after taking a careful inventory of his effects, discovered that he had means enough to enable him to reach Syracuse, N. Y. Without hesitation he started with his family and on arriving at Syracuse, took a building contract upon which he realized a sufficient sum to enable him to reach his destination. Leaving his family at Syracuse, he proceeded in 1861 to Chicago, but a few months later returning to New York, brought his family with him to Chicago in 1862, and there engaged in business as a contractor and builder. In 1868, with a view to benefiting his wife's health, he removed to Kaneville, Kane County, where he purchased a farm upon which he continued to reside for the next fifteen years engaged in agricultural pursuits. Then removing to Elburn in 1883, he embarked in the lumber trade as a member of the firm of Elden & Goding, but two years later, having purchased the interest of his partner, became head of the firm of Goding & Son. In 1894, he sold out his interest and retired from business. During his business career in Kane County, Mr. Goding has been the builder and promoter in the erection of twenty-nine buildings in Elburn and vicinity. For six years he was one of the Trustees of the Village of Elburn and for nine years Superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School there. Nov. 28, 1847, Mr. Goding was married in Levington, Mass., to Miss Lydia M. Chandler, a cousin of Senator Zachariah Chandler of Michigan, and of Salmon P. Chase of Ohio. Of this union there were seven children: Flora C., born May 27, 1849; Alfonso C., born May 31, 1851; Josephine O., born May 21, 1853, died July 13, 1854; Ella M., born Feb. 14, 1855. died March 7, 1893; Horace L., born Oct. 22, 1857, died Sept. 4, 1864; Frederick W., born May 9, 1858, is United States Consul at New South Wales, Australia, having been appointed by President McKinley; and, Oscar W., born May 12, 1860.
E. F. GOODELL, banker, St. Charles, Ill., born in the city where he now resides, August 24, 1858; taught country schools for a few winters, and in 1880 accepted a position as cashier with the banking house of J. C. Baird & Company, with which he has remained through two changes, the firm being at the present time John Stewart & Company, in which Mr. Goodell is a stockholder. Mr. Goodell married Abbie Peterson, of St. Charles, and they have three children, Harry, Ralph and Charlotte.
LEE N. GOODWIN, banker, Aurora, born in Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, Ill., Jan. 2, 1870, was reared under the home roof and educated in the public schools, finishing his schooling in Aurora. Entering the employ of the old Second National Bank of Aurora as a messenger boy in 1888, by successive promotions he rose to his present position, being appointed Cashier in 1898. The following year he became a Director of the bank, and as such is efficient. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Elks and other orders. In 1895 he married Miss Cecelia O'Meara, of Aurora.
RUSSELL P. GOODWIN, lawyer and jurist, Aurora, Ill., born at Bloomingdale, Ill., Dec. 24, 1851; read law with Judge H. H. Cody, of Napervllle, and Judge M. O. Southworth, Aurora; admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Illinois in 1876, and has since practiced his profession in Aurora, except twelve years that he served on the Bench; married in 1885 Miss Minnie Ralph, of Aurora, who died in 1888. In 1890 he married Miss Nellie Ames, of Geneva. Ill.
