James P. Goodrich was born on February 18, 1864 in Winchester, Indiana. He was the son of John Baldwin and Elizabeth Edgar Goodrich. John was an attorney and was struggling with tuberculosis; he died in 1872. James attended public schools and planned on going into the US Naval Academy. He obtained an appointment to the school, but he suffered a major injury to his hip after falling out of a tree. As a result of his injury, he had to decline the offer. Goodrich taught in Randolph County public schools for two years, saving money for college.
In 1885, Goodrich attended Depauw University, where he became a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. James became friends with Albert J. Beveridge who helped James become interested in politics. Two years later, James was forced to drop out of college due to not being able to afford it. He then began to study law with Enos Watson who was the father of his classmate, James E. Watson. He practiced law in his hometown in 1887 and rose to prominence in Republican politics. In 1888, James married a woman named Cora Frist. The couple had a son on September 10, 1894, who they named Pierre. He was a student at Winchester High School and joined a boy’s club called the “Six Jolly Urchins,” which promoted local dances. He graduated from WCHS in 1912. After high school, Pierre enrolled in Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in Humanities. From there, he entered Harvard Law School in 1916. He was a disciple of the great jurists Roscoe Pound and Felix Frankfurter, and later became a highly influential U.S. Supreme Court justice. His law studies at Harvard were interrupted in 1917; he was drafted into the United States Army and stationed in Jeffersonville. In 1918, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant and returned in 1920 to complete his law degree at Harvard University. In the same year, Pierre married Dorothy Dugan. The two had a daughter named Nancy, but divorced later. Pierre was similar to his father in many ways. They were both successful businessmen and attorneys. They were also public minded. Both James and Pierre were persistent, ambitious, and stubborn. Twelve and fourteen hour days were not uncommon for both. Later in life, Pierre would occasionally work through the night just to prove that he was still capable. Pierre Goodrich died in October, 1973.
In 1897, James became chairman of the Randolph County Republican Party. He then later served as state chairman from 1901 to 1910. He moved his practice to Indianapolis in 1910, and acquired a large fortune in coal mines, grain elevators, banks, and farmlands. He spent the next five years working in a law firm and overseeing business interests. He returned to active politics in 1915 when he announced that he would run for governor. James was elected as governor in 1916 and was sworn into office on January 8, 1917; he served as Indiana’s 29th governor until 1921.
James died on August 15, 1940 at the age of 76 in Winchester, Indiana. He is buried in Fountain Park Cemetery in Winchester. Goodrich Hall at Wabash College was named in his honor.
In 1885, Goodrich attended Depauw University, where he became a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. James became friends with Albert J. Beveridge who helped James become interested in politics. Two years later, James was forced to drop out of college due to not being able to afford it. He then began to study law with Enos Watson who was the father of his classmate, James E. Watson. He practiced law in his hometown in 1887 and rose to prominence in Republican politics. In 1888, James married a woman named Cora Frist. The couple had a son on September 10, 1894, who they named Pierre. He was a student at Winchester High School and joined a boy’s club called the “Six Jolly Urchins,” which promoted local dances. He graduated from WCHS in 1912. After high school, Pierre enrolled in Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in Humanities. From there, he entered Harvard Law School in 1916. He was a disciple of the great jurists Roscoe Pound and Felix Frankfurter, and later became a highly influential U.S. Supreme Court justice. His law studies at Harvard were interrupted in 1917; he was drafted into the United States Army and stationed in Jeffersonville. In 1918, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant and returned in 1920 to complete his law degree at Harvard University. In the same year, Pierre married Dorothy Dugan. The two had a daughter named Nancy, but divorced later. Pierre was similar to his father in many ways. They were both successful businessmen and attorneys. They were also public minded. Both James and Pierre were persistent, ambitious, and stubborn. Twelve and fourteen hour days were not uncommon for both. Later in life, Pierre would occasionally work through the night just to prove that he was still capable. Pierre Goodrich died in October, 1973.
In 1897, James became chairman of the Randolph County Republican Party. He then later served as state chairman from 1901 to 1910. He moved his practice to Indianapolis in 1910, and acquired a large fortune in coal mines, grain elevators, banks, and farmlands. He spent the next five years working in a law firm and overseeing business interests. He returned to active politics in 1915 when he announced that he would run for governor. James was elected as governor in 1916 and was sworn into office on January 8, 1917; he served as Indiana’s 29th governor until 1921.
James died on August 15, 1940 at the age of 76 in Winchester, Indiana. He is buried in Fountain Park Cemetery in Winchester. Goodrich Hall at Wabash College was named in his honor.
Gage Zibler, Brooklyn Gerber, Noah Hazelbaker, Ashli Duncan, & Jocelyn Wolf
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