The Goddard Home in Dunham Township

"Mr. Goddard has the finest house in the township."

The George Rodney Goddard Farm, Dunham Township, History of Washington County, Ohio, by H. Z. Williams (1881)

The Marietta Register, November 18, 1875:

Last Saturday was the day published for "Dunham Circle" to be held at Mrs. George Goddard's, who lives on Little Hocking on a farm formerly owned by Davis Hollister. A general invitation had been given to attend the circle, but in addition a special invitation was given to all the mechanics (and their ladies) who had been employed in building Mr. Goddard's new house. And in addition to the circle, there was to be a dedication of the "new house." We concluded to go and see for ourselves, not expecting to see Belpre out-done. Upon our arrival we found all the available hitching posts taken up. Carriages, buggies, wagons, expresses, buckboards and horses, which made one think of the commissary train of General Sherman's army.

Mr. Goddard has the finest house in the township. It is built after the modern style, being nearly square, 31x41, with a good tin roof. Rooms large and commodious. Two good chimneys with enameled mantles; folding doors to the parlor and sitting room. These two rooms had a very fine finish of plaster Paris moulding. In the centre of the double room I have just described was a table holding the "Mechanic's Cake," bouquets and evergreens. One hundred and fifty persons were present, and all wanted to be "mechanics." In the dining room we found Carmi Smith and Shelt Dunbar; what office they held we don't know - but one thing we do know, there were the most cakes.

At this time a new organ arrived. Miss Tilton and Misses Scott of Warren gave us music. Much transpired we cannot mention. collections $20, and Dunham ahead. May Mrs. Goddard's numerous friends never grow less.

Note: Hapgood Goddard and Rebecca Wood Goddard, both children of New Hampshire ministers, arrived in Washington County, Ohio, in 1814, and lived on Blennerhassett Island for a year. In 1817 the family moved to Wesley Township, where George Rodney Goddard was born in 1827. George moved to Dunham Township about 1859. He acquired his own farm of about 600 acres and specialized in raising short-horned cattle. In 1867 he married Esther J. Smith, daughter of Carmi and Sarah Bishop Smith. George and Esther Smith Goddard were the parents of Loring Hapgood Goddard (1869-1944), Selvan Carmi Goddard (1876-1900), and Harford Bishop Goddard (1878-1935). George Goddard died in 1912, and Esther died in 1915. They are buried in the Hopkins Cemetery, Dunham Township.