Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Page 321

Willard A. Goodenough, farmer, section 10, Union Grove Township, has been a resident on the same farm which he now occupies since he first took possession of it at the time of his settling in the county in 1865. He is the third child of John and Betsey (Cobleigh) Goodenough. His parents were natives of Vermont, and removed from there to Jefferson Co., N.Y., where they were farmers and reared their children, 11 in number.

Mr. Goodenough was born March 24, 1822, in Jefferson Co., N.Y., where he grew to manhood and there obtained a good common-school education. About the time he arrived at the period of his legal freedom, he bought a farm in his native county, on which he labored until his removal to Illinois in the year named. He made a purchase of 120 acres of land on the section where he has since maintained his homestead. He is now the owner of 230 acres of the valuable land which is the source of the wealth and prosperity of Whiteside County. It is chiefly under cultivation.

He is a Prohibitionist in his political views.

His marriage to Nancy J. Hull took place Jan. 13, 1842, in Oswego Co., N.Y., and they have been the parents of five children: George E., Esther J., Lewis E., Emma L. and Ella L. (twins). Lewis died at the age of 16 months. Mrs. Goodenough was born Aug. 22, 1820, in Morristown, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y., and is the daughter of Nathaniel and Prudence (Fish) Hull. Her mother was born in Massachusetts, and her father in Connecticut. They had four children.

Mr. and Mrs. Goodenough are members of the Baptist Church.