Abner GOODELL, of Union Township, residing on section of 19, is a native of [Mansfield, Tolland Co.] Connecticut, born March 1, 1829. When an infant he was taken by his parents, jonathan and Sophia (CLARK) GOODELL, to Marion County, Ohio, and in that county he was reared to manhood, his youth being spent in assisting with the work of the farm during the summer months, and in the winter attending school. He was the eldest child in a family of four children, of whom he was the only son [sisters: Aletha (GOODELL) HATCH (1831-1917); Lucy S. GOODELL (1833-1840); Ruth C. (GOODELL) WRIGHT (1839-1864)]. His father died [September 22] 1839, at the early age of thirty-two years. Thus early in life our subject was largely thrown on his own resources, and was the main reliance of his mother and her younger children.

January 8, 1852, Mr. GOODELL was united in marriage to Miss Fanny A. BUNKER who was born in Canada, July 4, 1831, a daughter of John L. and Priscilla BUNKER. Mr. and Mrs. GOODELL are the parents of ten children - Jonathan died in 1851, aged nine months; Eliphaz married Ella JOHNSON and has two children - Oral (sic) and an infant; Grace, living at home; William L., died in 1863; aged seven years; Cora E., died in 1861, aged eighteen months; James died in 1863, aged three years; George Edmund and Dora at home; and Horace A. how died in 1872, aged about one year.

Mr. GOODELL continued to reside in Marion County, Ohio, until he made his home in Ringgold County, Iowa, in 1856. Besides his own family he was accompanied to this county by his morther, who died at his home in 1879, at the age of seventy- one years, and his two sisters 0 Alithea, wife of E. D. HATCH who now lives at Mount Ayr, and Ruth C. who afterwar married Ambrose WRIGHT and died in Union Township in 1869. One sister of our subject, named Lucy, died in Ohio in February, 1840, aged seven years.

Mr. GOODELL came to Iowa in 1855 when he entered 160 acres of Government land in Union Township, a part of his present farm, where he built a small plank house in October, 1856, which stood a little in front of the site of his present residence, which is the finest in the neighborhood.

He brought with him to this county a small capital, having $300 in cash and a good team. He has witnessed almost all the changes which have taken place in Ringgold County, having been among the firest to settle here, and has watched with interest the rapid development of the township where he has made his home for so many years. He has experienced all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and has met with misfortunes, and has had his share of sickness, yet, he has by his perservering energy, industry, and frugality prospered beyond his expectations, and has now a competency for his declining years.

His farm now contains 420 acres of well-improved land, and his fine residence property, on section 19, adjoins the village of Wirt [present-day Ellston] on the west.

Mr. and Mrs. GOODELL were reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and are still united with that denomination. Mr. GOODELL is a member of the Masonic farternity, beloning to the Banner Lodge, at Wort, No. 437, and is also a member of Mount Ayr Chapter. In politics he is an ardent Republican. He has served his township in many official trusts, filling all offices faithfully and acceptably, and has also served on the county Board of Supervisors. Mr. GOODELL is widely known throughout the county, and few pioneer settlers are more highly respected than he.

NOTE: Fanny's father John Laurence BUNKER was born in Augusta, Maine, May 24 1802, and died March 11, 1871, Ringgold County, Iowa. Fanny's mother Perscilla (BEZZELL) BUNKER was born January 1, 1802, Staffordshire, England, and died August 21, 1870, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Fanny's brother George Washington BUNKER was born February 22, 1840, Norwalk, Ohio, and died November 6, 1902, Ellston, Ringgold County, Iowa. George W.'s wife Mary (SNEER) BUNKER was born March 1, 1851, and died December 22, 1940.

Jonathan GOODELL was born September 11, 1807, Mansfield, Connecticut, and died September 22, 1839. Sophia Jane (CLARK) GOODELL was born September 18, 1808, and died March 31, 1879. Sophia was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Abner GOODELL died January 4, 1890. Fanny Ann (BUNKER) GOODELL was born in Canada on July 4, 1831, and died October 20, 1893. Abner and Fanny were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Abner and Fanny (BUNKER) GOODELL were the parents of ten children:

1) Jonathan GOODELL
     born 05 Jan 1852; died 26 Sep 1852
2) Eliphaz GOODELL
     born 29 Jan 1853, Marion Co. OH; died 18 Jun 1909, Colony KS
     married Ella Mary JOHNSON 19 Feb 1880
                  born 15 Jun 1860, Galesbury IL; died 15 Jan 1941, Colony KS
                  daughter of John JOHNSON & Lavina (BLIGHTED) JOHNSON
     Children of Eliphaz & Ella (JOHNSTON) GOODELL:
       1) Lloyd GOODELL
           born 09 Dec 1881; died 06 Aug 1882
           interment Ellston Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
       2) Orrel F. GOODELL
           born 15 Jan 1883; died 04 Jun 1953
           married Alma SKOURUP circa 1910
                       born 29 Jun 1889; died 05 Sep 1951
       3) Arthur E. GOODELL
           born 28 Apr 1886, Ellston IA; died 31 Mar 1968, Kansas City MO
           married Anna Ethel STRATTON 14 Sep 1924, Kansas City MO
                       born 30 Aug 1886, Jackson Co. MO; died 03 Jan 1962, Kansas City MO
       4) Bessie GOODELL
           born 10 Aug 1889; died 05 Nov 1891
           interment Ellston Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
       5) Theresa B. GOODELL
           born 11 Aug 1891; died circa 1892
       6) Fred W. GOODELL
           born 29 Nov 1893, Ellston IA; died 05 Nov 1961, Colony KS
           married Freda Leona NICHOLS 24 May 1917, Colony KS
                       born 28 Sep 1897, Colony KS; died 27 Jun 1970, Colony KS
3) Grace Priscilla GOODELL
    born 05 Oct 1854, Warren Co. OH; died 04 Dec 1934, Indianola, Warren Co. IA
    married John W. SMITH 21 Sep 1892, Ellston IA
                 born 28 May 1866, Charleston IN; died 11 Jan 1931, Indianola, Warren Co. IA
                 son of Andrew and Minerva (RICHARDS) SMITH
    Children of Grace (GOODELL) and John W. SMITH:
      1) Leathe SMITH, born 14 Dec 1893
          married Arch SIMPSON
      2) Mary SMITH, born 07 Apr 1896; died 11 Oct 1941
4) William L. GOODELL
    born 19 Apr 1857; died 28 Aug 1863
    interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA
5) Cora E. GOODELL
    born 23 Apr 1859; died 23 Mar 1861
    interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, IA
6) James GOODELL
    born 12 Feb 1860; died 12 Sep 1863
    interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold Co. IA
7) George GOODELL
    born 01 Feb 1863, Wirt IA; died 22 Jan 1935, Kellerton IA
    married Anna SADLER 1889
                born 04 Mar 1865, Van Buren Co. IA; died 14 Mar 1954, Kellerton IA
    George and Anna interred Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton IA
    Child: A. J. GOODELL
             born 25 Feb 1891; died 1964
             interment Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton IA
             A. J.'s wife Sadie, born 1893; died 1980, interred Maple Row
8) Edmund GOODELL
    born 22 Sep 1865, Wirt IA; died 08 Feb 1935, Ellston IA
    interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold Co. IA
    married Eliza Eleanor RUTH 19 Jan 1887
                born 30 Aug 1872, Winterset, Madison Co. IA; died 04 Jul 1969, Bellingham WA
    Children of Edmund and Eliza (RUTH) GOODELL:
      1) Leo GOODELL, born 31 May 1888
      2) Fay GOODELL, born 02 Nov 1890
      3) Grace GOODELL, born 06 Jun 1892
      4) Plumie GOODELL, born 18 Feb 1894
          married George BEEKS
      5) Willard GOODELL
      6) Valma GOODELL
      7) Kenneth GOODELL
9) Dora (GOODELL) SMITH
    born 07 Nov 1867; died 27 Feb 1905
10) Horace GOODELL
     born 18 Jul 1870; died 07 Feb 1872
     interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold Co. IA

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 289-90, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z