Harry Goodell from "History of Rochester and Monroe County"

  Harry Goodell is a splendid representative of progressive agriculture as practiced by those members of the farming class who have made steady advancement, each year improving on the methods and processes which they followed the previous year. He resides in the town of Parma and his entire life has been given to general agricultural pursuits

  His paternal grandfather , William Goodell, was born in Cherry Valley, NY in 1779, and married Miss Sylvia Dutcher, who was also a native of Cherry Valley, born in 1789. They were married in 1809 and became the parents of five children., including Elijah Goodell, whose birth occurred in the town of Parma, October29, 1828, following the removal of the family to Monroe county. From a very early day the family has been represented in this part of the state and Elijah Goodell experienced many of the difficulties and hardships incident to frontier life. He wedded Martha M. Hazen, who was born in the town of Richmond, Mar 12, 1834. Their wedding was celebrated in 1851 and was blessed with a family of three sons and two daughters; William, born November 2 1982 Harry, July 3 1854; Parmelia, January 11, 1857; Hattie, April 17, 1866; and Fred, September 5, 1871.

   The grandfather, William Goodell, came to the town of Parma when it was largely an undeveloped wilderness and at the land office filed his claim to one hundred and eight acres of virgin soil. This tract was covered with its native growth of timber in the midst of the forest he cleared and developed his farm, cutting away the trees, grubbing out the stumps and preparing the soil for cultivation. In the course of years he became the owner of a very fine farm and assisted in making the district what it is today - one of the most rich, fertile and productive tracts of Monroe county. Elijah Goodell, the father of our subject, was born upon this farm, which came into his possession upon the death of his father, and his remaining days were here passed.

  Harry Goodell, who was born in the old family homestead July 3 1854, is indebted to the public schools for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He commenced life as a farmer and has always followed that pursuit, starting out on his own account when twenty-seven years of age. Previous to this time he had always worked on the old home place with his father, who in 1871 purchased a farm of ninety-three acres, of which Harry Goodell is now half owner. The father invested twenty-four hundred dollars in this property and gave his son Harry a half interest. Starting out on his own account Mr. Goodell has eagerly embraced every opportunity for honorable advancement and he and his wife are now the owners of three hundred and ninety acres of valuable land.  Upon his home place he has an orchard of seventeen acres, while twenty-four acres on his other two farms are also devoted to the cultivation and production of fruit. In al that he undertakes he displays a spirit of resolution and perseverance, which enables him to win success and he brooks no obstacle that can be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable labor.

  On the 25th October, 1886, Mr. Goodell was married to Miss Mary H. Lowden, who was born May 31, 1862, and they have one daughter, Grace Goodell, whose birth occurred November 21 1894, and who is now a student in Spencerport high school.

   Mr. Goodell is independent in his political views. Her served for one term as highways commissioner,   but otherwise has held no office. He has erected all of the buildings on his home place and these are modern and substantial structures, making the farm a model property. The style of architecture is good and the place is most attractive in its appearance, owing to the care and labor bestowed upon it. Desirous of advancement and utilizing his opportunities to the best advantage Mrs. Goodell has made steady progress in his business career and is today classed with the prominent representatives of farm interests in the town of Parma.