Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

1825; Joseph Francis, baptized July 1,
1827; Pamelia, baptized May 7, 1829;
James, baptized June 20, 1831 ; Mary;
Elizabeth, married James A. Stillman.
The children of the second marriage are:
Charles Clinton, mentioned below ; Nel-
lie, married Henry Strong; Frederick
W. ;
Emma;
Raymond.
Charles Clinton Goodrich, son of Deacon
Joshua and Mary A. (Welles) Goodrich,
was born July 30, 1846, in Wethers-
field, Connecticut. After completing his
elementary education at the South Grammar
School, he continued his studies in
Williston Seminary, in Easthampton, Mas-
sachusetts. Upon finishing his course he
immediately entered business for himself
as a seed grower, in partnership with his
brother, F. W. Goodrich. In this he engaged
for a short time only. Later, for
six years, he conducted a freighting busi-
ness in New York. During this period
Manuel R. Brazos, who was one of the
most prominent men in the shipping bus-
iness on this coast, placed Charles C.
Goodrich in charge of his freighting
interests on Long Island Sound. This
continued until the death of Mr. Brazos
in Hartford, upon which occasion Mr.
Goodrich went to that city to settle his
affairs. To take over the Brazos busi-
ness a new company was organized, the
Hartford and New York Transportation
Company, with the following officers:
C. C. Goodrich, manager; E. S. Good-
rich, president; E. B. Williams, superin-
tendent. During the first few years of its
organization the company had the mis-
fortune to lose several of its boats, thus
suffering a severe financial setback. By
careful management the losses were re-
trieved, and the business gradually placed
on a paying basis. In 1896 the twinscrew
steamer "Hartford" was built, and
put in service, followed two years later
by the "Middletown." These vessels
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
202
marked a distinct advance in the con-
struction of boats for the Connecticut
river traffic. They were of light draft,
of about one thousand five hundred tons
each, and stateroom and berth accommo-
dations for about four hundred passen-
gers. The boats were crowded to capac-
ity during the summer season. Soon after
the beginning of the Spanish War the
"Hartford" was purchased by the government
for use as a hospital ship, and
the company replaced her in the service
with a duplicate of the "Middletown."
In October, 1906, when the company
was purchased by the New York, New
Haven & Hartford Railroad Company,
Mr. Goodrich was the senior of all con-
nected with the business in point of serv-
ice and experience, and to his untiring
efforts and unusual executive ability the
success of the enterprise was largely due.
The growth and development of the bus-
iness had been constant from year to
year. In 1890 the company acquired the
shipyard and marine railway of M. L.
Darton at Dutch Point, where it afterward
built a score of barges and steam-
boats. When the business was sold to the
New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad
the company was operating a fleet
of thirty tugs, barges and steamers valued
at more than six hundred thousand
dollars ; it owned real estate valued at
more than two hundred thousand dollars,
with docks at Hartford. Middletown
and other points on the Connecticut river.
Since that time Mr. Goodrich has been
vice-president and general manager of the
company ;
president of the Maine Steamship
Company, and manager of the Bay
State Line to Providence, the Merchant
Line to Bridgeport, and several connect-
ing lines.
On March 11, 1874, Mr. Goodrich married
Beulah, daughter of Calvin N. and
Emily (Dickinson) Murray. Calvin N.