Isaac Goodnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Goodnow
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| Born | January 17, 1814 |
| Died | March 20, 1894 (aged 80) |
Isaac Tichenor Goodnow (born January 17, 1814 – died March 20, 1894) was an important figure in Kansas history. He was an abolitionist, meaning he worked to end slavery. Goodnow also helped start Kansas State University and the city of Manhattan, Kansas.
He was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. He also served as the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction. This means he was in charge of public education for Kansas. Because of his work, he is often called "the father of formal education in Kansas."
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Isaac Goodnow's Early Life and Education
Isaac Goodnow was born in Whitingham, Vermont. He grew up in the New England area. When his father passed away in 1828, Isaac paused his schooling. He worked as a clerk to help his family.
Later, he went back to school. He graduated from Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts in 1838. In the same year, Isaac Goodnow married Ellen D. Denison. After graduating, he stayed at Wesleyan Academy. He worked there as a teacher until 1848. In 1845, Wesleyan University gave him an honorary degree.
In 1848, Goodnow became a professor. He taught natural sciences at the Providence Conference Seminary. This school is now known as East Greenwich Academy in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He taught there until December 1854. At age 40, he decided to move to Kansas Territory. He wanted to help create a town where slavery was not allowed. This was supported by the New England Emigrant Aid Company.
Moving to Kansas: A New Beginning
Isaac Goodnow strongly believed in ending slavery. He had been an abolitionist since at least 1840. In December 1854, he heard a speech. It was given by Eli Thayer, who started the New England Emigrant Aid Company. Thayer talked about fighting against the influence of slavery in Kansas Territory. Goodnow decided to move to Kansas with the Company the next spring. He also started writing articles and letters. He encouraged others to join the fight against slavery.
On March 6, 1855, Goodnow left Boston, Massachusetts. He traveled with a group of 75 settlers from New England. By March 18, Goodnow's group reached Kansas City. There, Goodnow met Samuel C. Pomeroy. Pomeroy was a representative for the Company. They decided to build the new settlement. It would be at the spot where the Kansas River and the Big Blue River meet. Goodnow and six other men went ahead. They were the first to set up the location.
When Goodnow's team arrived, two small settlements already existed. They were called Polistra and Canton. In April 1855, Goodnow and the other pioneers combined these settlements. They formed a new town called Boston. Goodnow helped write the rules for the Boston Town Company. Two months later, in June 1855, a steamboat called the Hartford got stuck. It was carrying 75 settlers from Ohio near the settlement. The Hartford passengers were invited to join the new town. They agreed, but they wanted to rename it Manhattan. This change happened on June 29, 1855.
Goodnow claimed land just outside Manhattan. His wife joined him there in July 1855. Other family members also moved to Manhattan that year. These included his brother, William Goodnow, and his sister, Lucinda Parkerson. His brother-in-law, Joseph Denison, also settled there.
Fighting for Freedom in Kansas
In July 1855, the government in Shawnee Mission started passing laws that supported slavery. People who wanted Kansas to be a Free-State met to decide what to do. In August 1855, Goodnow attended the first big meeting of Free-State leaders.
The group decided to create their own government. They wrote the Topeka Constitution. Goodnow did not help write this constitution. In 1858, Goodnow was a delegate at the Leavenworth Constitutional Convention. This convention created the most open and fair of the proposed Free-State constitutions.
Building Important Institutions
Goodnow helped start the Methodist Blue Mont Central College in Manhattan in 1858. From 1857 to 1861, Goodnow spent several months each year in the East. He was raising money to build Blue Mont Central College and Manhattan's Methodist church. The college building was finally finished and opened for students in 1860.
Kansas became a state in 1861. Goodnow then worked hard to turn Blue Mont Central College into the state university. He tried in 1861 and 1862, but he did not succeed. Finally, in 1863, he convinced the legislature. They changed Bluemont into Kansas State Agricultural College. This college later became Kansas State University. This was done under the rules of the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act.
While working on this, Goodnow was also elected. In 1861, he joined the Kansas House of Representatives. In the fall of 1862, he was elected state Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was re-elected to this position in 1864.
In 1863, Goodnow helped create the Kansas State Teachers Association. He also served on the board of the National Education Association.
In 1867, Goodnow was chosen to sell land. This was 90,000 acres (364 km2) of land given by the government to Kansas State Agricultural College. He held this job until 1873. From 1869 to 1876, Goodnow also worked for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. He was their land commissioner.
See also
- Goodnow House
