Politician Charles Goodyear

He was most notable for his service as a United States representative from 1845 to 1847 and 1865 to 1867.

Charles Goodyear
Mathew Brady photo, circa 1860-1865
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867
Preceded by	John V. L. Pruyn
Succeeded by	John V. L. Pruyn
Constituency	14th district
In office March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	Jeremiah E. Cary
Succeeded by	George A. Starkweather
Constituency	21st district
Member of the New York State Assembly from Schoharie County
In office January 1, 1840 – December 31, 1840 Serving with Seymour Boughton
Preceded by	Harvey Bliss, George F. Fox
Succeeded by	Nicholas Beekman, Jacob C. Skillman
Personal details
Born	April 26, 1804 Cobleskill, New York
Died	April 9, 1876 (aged 71) Charlottesville, Virginia
Resting place	Maplewood Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Charlotte Seitz Gebhard (m. 1815-1876, his death)
Children	3
Profession	Attorney

Goodyear was born in Cobleskill, New York on April 26, 1804, the son of Jared Goodyear and Bede (Ives) Goodyear. He attended Hartwick Academy in Otsego County and graduated from Union College in 1824. He studied law with Henry Hamilton, was admitted to the bar in 1826 and commenced practice with Hamilton in Schoharie, New York.

A Democrat, he was Schoharie's town supervisor from 1834 to 1837. In 1840 he also served in the New York State Assembly.

Goodyear was appointed first judge of Schoharie County in February 1843 and served until November 1847.

Tenure in Congress

Goodyear was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served in the 29th Congress (March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847). During this term, Goodyear was a member of the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

He did not run for reelection and resumed the practice of law in Schoharie. In 1852 he established the Schoharie County Bank, of which he was president.

In 1864 Goodyear was again elected to the U.S. House, and he served in the 39th Congress (March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867). His committee assignments during this term included the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions and the Committee on Private Land Claims. He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1866 and resumed the practice of law in Schoharie.

Goodyear was a delegate to the National Union Convention in 1866 and to the 1868 Democratic National Convention. In 1868 an investment bank in which Goodyear was a partner, Goodyear Brothers & Durand, became insolvent. After liquidating his New York assets and property to help pay the firm's debts, in 1869 Goodyear moved to Charlottesville, Virginia. He practiced law in Virginia and in 1869 received an appointment from Virginia's post-Civil War military government as a justice of the peace for Albemarle County.

Goodyear died in Charlottesville on April 9, 1876, and was interred at Maplewood Cemetery in Charlottesville, Division E, Block 8, Section 7.

In 1835, Goodyear married Charlotte Seitz Gebhard (1815–1887) of Schoharie. They were the parents of three children—Charles A., George G., and Mary.