James J. Goodrich was the son of Silas and Mary Ann Goodrich of Tioga County, New York. He came to Kansas Territory in company with Henry Griffing and other members of Henry's family in March, 1855 to take a homestead near Deer Creek, east of Topeka -- making him one of the earliest settlers in Shawnee County. When the Civil War broke out, James joined the 5th Kansas Cavalry in August 1861 and served three years until he was mustered out of the service in 1864. James participated in several small skirmishes in Missouri and Northern Arkansas during the war, and was present for duty in July 1863 at the Battle of Helena, which precipitated the collapse of rebel resistance in Arkansas. He was with the 5th Kansas Cavalry when they liberated Little Rock from Confederate control in September 1863 and was reunited with his brother, Ralph Goodrich, who was a resident of Little Rock at the time. (Ralph had earlier in the war served with the 6th Arkansas Confederate Infantry.) James was also present for duty a couple of months later at the Battle of Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
During the last year of his service, James was detailed with a few other cavalrymen to serve with an artillery unit attached to the 5th. This caused him some loss of hearing before his enlistment expired but he otherwise came out of the war unscathed.
After his military service, James contracted out as a civilian laborer for the government, supplying hay and other basic necessities for the military posts west of Fort Riley, such as Fort Ellsworth, Fort Hayes, and Fort Larned. In 1866, he entered into a freighting partnership with Evander Light of Saline County. He lost his life in 1868 when he fell from the freight wagon he was driving near the Walnut Creek crossing of the Fort Hayes-Fort Larned trail in Rush County. It is believed their wagon train was being chased by hostile Indians at the time. In a letter to his sister just before his death, James wrote, "I think we have been very lucky in not loosing (sic) our mules or scalps." James was initially buried near Walnut Creek, but his body was retrieved a couple of weeks later by his brother-in-law, Rev. James Sayre Griffing, and returned to Topeka for burial.
James Goodrich never married.
During the last year of his service, James was detailed with a few other cavalrymen to serve with an artillery unit attached to the 5th. This caused him some loss of hearing before his enlistment expired but he otherwise came out of the war unscathed.
After his military service, James contracted out as a civilian laborer for the government, supplying hay and other basic necessities for the military posts west of Fort Riley, such as Fort Ellsworth, Fort Hayes, and Fort Larned. In 1866, he entered into a freighting partnership with Evander Light of Saline County. He lost his life in 1868 when he fell from the freight wagon he was driving near the Walnut Creek crossing of the Fort Hayes-Fort Larned trail in Rush County. It is believed their wagon train was being chased by hostile Indians at the time. In a letter to his sister just before his death, James wrote, "I think we have been very lucky in not loosing (sic) our mules or scalps." James was initially buried near Walnut Creek, but his body was retrieved a couple of weeks later by his brother-in-law, Rev. James Sayre Griffing, and returned to Topeka for burial.
James Goodrich never married.
James J. Goodrich was the son of Silas and Mary Ann Goodrich of Tioga County, New York. He came to Kansas Territory in company with Henry Griffing and other members of Henry's family in March, 1855 to take a homestead near Deer Creek, east of Topeka -- making him one of the earliest settlers in Shawnee County. When the Civil War broke out, James joined the 5th Kansas Cavalry in August 1861 and served three years until he was mustered out of the service in 1864. James participated in several small skirmishes in Missouri and Northern Arkansas during the war, and was present for duty in July 1863 at the Battle of Helena, which precipitated the collapse of rebel resistance in Arkansas. He was with the 5th Kansas Cavalry when they liberated Little Rock from Confederate control in September 1863 and was reunited with his brother, Ralph Goodrich, who was a resident of Little Rock at the time. (Ralph had earlier in the war served with the 6th Arkansas Confederate Infantry.) James was also present for duty a couple of months later at the Battle of Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
During the last year of his service, James was detailed with a few other cavalrymen to serve with an artillery unit attached to the 5th. This caused him some loss of hearing before his enlistment expired but he otherwise came out of the war unscathed.
After his military service, James contracted out as a civilian laborer for the government, supplying hay and other basic necessities for the military posts west of Fort Riley, such as Fort Ellsworth, Fort Hayes, and Fort Larned. In 1866, he entered into a freighting partnership with Evander Light of Saline County. He lost his life in 1868 when he fell from the freight wagon he was driving near the Walnut Creek crossing of the Fort Hayes-Fort Larned trail in Rush County. It is believed their wagon train was being chased by hostile Indians at the time. In a letter to his sister just before his death, James wrote, "I think we have been very lucky in not loosing (sic) our mules or scalps." James was initially buried near Walnut Creek, but his body was retrieved a couple of weeks later by his brother-in-law, Rev. James Sayre Griffing, and returned to Topeka for burial.
James Goodrich never married.
During the last year of his service, James was detailed with a few other cavalrymen to serve with an artillery unit attached to the 5th. This caused him some loss of hearing before his enlistment expired but he otherwise came out of the war unscathed.
After his military service, James contracted out as a civilian laborer for the government, supplying hay and other basic necessities for the military posts west of Fort Riley, such as Fort Ellsworth, Fort Hayes, and Fort Larned. In 1866, he entered into a freighting partnership with Evander Light of Saline County. He lost his life in 1868 when he fell from the freight wagon he was driving near the Walnut Creek crossing of the Fort Hayes-Fort Larned trail in Rush County. It is believed their wagon train was being chased by hostile Indians at the time. In a letter to his sister just before his death, James wrote, "I think we have been very lucky in not loosing (sic) our mules or scalps." James was initially buried near Walnut Creek, but his body was retrieved a couple of weeks later by his brother-in-law, Rev. James Sayre Griffing, and returned to Topeka for burial.
James Goodrich never married.
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