HON. MELANCTHON Z. GOODELL. – The family of which this pioneer is a member has ever been prominent and influential in the Pacific Northwest since its arrival hither.
Jothan W. Goodell, the father was a pioneer of Ohio; and it was at Vermilion that Melancthon was born in 1837. In 1850 the family crossed the plains, the eight children being deemed no serious hindrance. A stop-over was made at Salt Lake one winter; and it has been thought that they missed but little a great calamity from Mormon treachery. Reaching Portland in 1851, they made their first home in Polk county, Oregon, but in 1853 removed to Grand Mound, Washington Territory. When the Indian war broke out, young Melancthon enlisted in Captain Hay’s Company, serving ten months. At the dawn of peace following this troublesome period, he leased a farm in Lewis county, and was engaged in agriculture until 1860. His next home was near Elma, where he lived on a farm more than twenty years. In 1883 he occupied his present residence at Montesano, Washington, engaging in business as dealer in lumber and in real estate, being thus employed at present.
His public services have been important and various, – two terms as sheriff and two terms as assessor of Chehalis county. In 1882 he held a seat in the legislature, to which he was re-elected in 1884. He is at present mayor of Montesano.
He was married in 1858 to Miss Rebecca Byles, a native of Kentucky, but an early resident of Thurston county. They have eight children.
