Goodale, Rollin C., Addison, was born in Westport, Essex county, N. Y., on December 18, 1836. He was a son of Jared, jr., and Phebe (Norton) Goodale. Jared Goodale, jr., was a son of Jared Goodale, sr., who was an early settler in the town of Addison, Vt., settling on the Goodale place, which is near Chimney Point. Rollin C. Goodale was educated in the cornmon schools at Westport, N. Y., and was brought up to farming. When fifteen years of age he was thrown on his own resources, with but fifteen cents in his pocket. He went to Pennsylvania and after to Illinois, where he engaged as a farm hand at Plato Center, Kane county, Ill. He remained here for some years, after which he went to South Missouri, where he taught school for one year, during the excitement incident to the John Brown raid, and in common with all northern school teachers he was compelled to give up his school. After this he made a journey of 500 miles on foot, to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he purchased 160 acres of land. He went to Pike’s Peak in the spring of 1860, crossing the prairies with a team. He remained at the Peak for one year, and then returned to Vermont by way of the Great Lakes. He was engaged in peddling in the spring and summer of 1863 to 1878. He was married on June 10, 1863, to Hila Frost, of Bridport, Vt ., by whom he had one daughter — Cora M., who was born on January 29, 1867, and who now resides with her parents. In 1864 he enlisted in the First Vermont Cavalry and served until the close of the war ; after the close of the war he became a resident of the town of Bridport, Vt. He went to Kansas in September of 1870, and traveled extensively, returning to Vermont by the way of Washington, New York, and Boston. He rented the Converse farm at West Addison, Vt., for one year, and in 1872 he purchased the farm where he has since resided. In 1865 he introduced the Clipper Mowers and Reapers, a business which he has followed to the present time, and of which he has made a great success; also introduced the Buckeye Down Binder into this country, and the noted Tiger Broad-cast Grain Seeders and Drills, acting as general agent for J. S. Rowell, Sons & Co., of Beaver Dam, Wis. He has been very successful in introducing improved appliances to agricultural interests; is extensively interested in fruit raising and general farming.
