Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-09
MILES M. GOODYEAR.

mont,s Famine.Str1cken Party.
 Prepared from data furnished by Miss Mary E.
 Smith Of North Haven.l
 February 24, 1918, there was born in the town of Hamden, Conn.,, . descendent of Stephen Goodyear, first ieutenant-gov- ernor of New Haven colony. His parents were Andrew Goodyear and Patty, daugh- ter of Titus Bradley of North Haven, @ descendant of William Bradley, reputed ex-oficer in Cromwell's army. With this ineagewas mingled a strain of the blood of ancestry of Miles M. Goodyear, the subject of this narrative.
 At three years of age he was left an orphan, and at ten years was "bound out'' until sixteen to Ward Peck, prosperous farmer of North Haven. While living with his hardy yeoman he was not suffered to grow idle. The "bound boy" of New England never became rusty from disuse. His articles of indenture, however long drawn putin form, were brief in substance: They were summed up in "board and clothes, schooling and physic, and a suit when dismissed"
 Goodyear's schooling was little indeed, probably lesser than any of the other obli- gations Farmer Peck was holden for. Such as it was came from the historic old red school house on North Haven green, yet even this was found sufficient to inhame the adventurous spirit of the lad. An in heritance of certain wild freedom, of un- rest, of travel, was his, and hence it was that books of exploration and discovery became most in harmony with his feelings. Such volumes were by no means common in North Haven at that time. There had been once semblance of 8 public library (probably founded by Dr. TrumbulD con taining among heavier works 'Morse's Ge- ography" in two volumes and 'Bruce's Travels" What if any influence these or kindred works had over the boy one cannot know now, but certain it is that out of them all grew an intense and overmaster- ing desire to visit the unexplored "Great West" The broad, white area in the heart of the North American continent, denominated on the maps of that day as "The Great American Desert" had more interest for him than the Shorter Cate chism or Trumbull on Revelation. This unknown area became the pole about which his entire thought ciroled. Ere quently he was heard to declare his inten- tion to explore these wastes and solve the mystery hanging over them.
 At the expiration of service with Squire Peck, he entered the employ of Horace Stiles, 8 farmer and brickmaker, also of North Haven. His stay here was brief and confined to the brick yard. From this place he went to reside with his sister, Mrs. Jude B. Smith, then living at what was known as the hamlet ot '.smithtown" and entered the school in that district for brief period. The demon of unrest was urging him forward and in the spring of 1884, being then trife more than sixteen years old, he set out on foot to find the land ever in his vision, the un- known west.
 A year and more was consumed in reaching the city of Detroit, Mich, arriv ing there in June, 1885. A MT. Wood ward, hotel keeper of that city, was ac costed by the boy late one afternoon soliciting place; an arrangement wal made at once on the street. Goodyear re mained with him year, accumulated { little money and in June, 1886, again or foot started for Chicago. Here he entered and on the first of January, 1887, found ! himself beyond the Rocky mountains. Thus at last his goal was reached. Was there ever more youthful and ardent ad- venturer? He remained with the company until the expiration of his contract, anc then cutting loose from all civilization boldly struck into the wilderness fer him self. His first trading post and camp wat established on the site of the present city of Ogden He was the founder of that place, and it should have been named Goodyear in his honor. No white person had previously been seen by the native In. | dians, but mutual friendliness sprang ur l at once between him and the surrounding I..I T. Al chief of the Utahs and remained at this
 he was the most influential and widest known trader in all that region l No Indian ever asked bread o
 him and received stone; none however apparently worthless. went away uncared for. The name of Goodyear be- came safeguard to any who could utter it up and down hundreds of miles of plair and mountain. Here, by his account, he
 was supremely happy. The semi-savags life suited his temperament and dreams oi l the east, if they came at all, had little al
 lurement. His word was law, and hii
 law was justice. From it there was nc
 appeal, for by an almost unerring instinc
 he cleared the innocent and punished thu
 guilty. He was answerable to no highel | authority than right. For the public af
 fairs of territory or nation or even of hit
 birthplace he had neither concern or curl
 osity, but lived in 8 world of his own. | Two children were born to him-Wil
 liam in 1846 and Mary in 1848. Of pur
 Indian blood, his wife was truly princes
 of her race. With prophetic eye sh
 faced the rising day; he turned his baol
 upon it. She beheld in the east lighted
 heaven and under it an enchanted land
 he saw only setting suns and westerl
 mountains. There was no conflict, never
 theless the woman prevailed. Tradition
 ayers her children were never permitted t.
 know the Indian tongue, but at an exceed
 ing early age were sent to the states by
 trusted band of traders and educated il
 modern ways. Mary visited Connection
 in 1876, an accomplished and lovable lady
 She died in 1882.
 Valuable service was rendered by Good
 year to the United States government, fo l which history has never given adequat
 credit. In 1S45 Colonel John c. Fremon l in obedience to orders, commenced tn
 third of his great expeditions to the re
 motest west. The path mapped out fo
 him led through province of the Mexi
 can republic, or what was known as Alt
 California. While en route Fremont
 party became entangled in the untravelet
 wilderness. Famine, cold and storm over | LOOK them ana had It not been tor Good
 years post the band must have miserabl,
 perished. They remained here thre
 months in the winter of 1846 and when re
 cruited for the spring campaign Goodyea
 volunteered as guide. They went for
 ward to the boundary of California. Fron
 this point Fremont proceeded alon
 to Monterey to obtain permission | from the Mexican authorities to cros
 their territory; this was granted and tn party allowed to proceed. Scarcely wer
 they on their way again when war was de
 clared between the United States and Mex l ico. Fremont seems to have had an ink 1 ling of this, though not from the hom | government, for when body of Mexican | troops was despatched to overtake and at
 tack him, they found him so skillfully for 1 tifed as tc deem it wise to retreat. Hay ing no orders to assume the offensive h.
 commenced, under Goodyear's lead,
 march towards Oregon. A portion of thi
 route had been traversed when his com
 mand was intercepted by an officer ant guard conveying despatches to the United States consul at Monterey, as well as tt
 Fremont himself. wherever he could b l found. The tenor of these instruction | were to repair at once to California ant l use all exertions to render the settlers ther | favorable to annexation to the United
 States.
 Fremont turned at once to the valley o
 the Sacramento.
 Arriving there, he was attacked by
 General Castro but so rapid and forcefu
 were Fremont's movements that within ! sixty daya from hia arrival tha Nayioon