Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

'.''•„ GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2837*1879 Doctor Powell succeeded him and continued to guide and develop theinstitute and to contribute to the literature of insanity and tuberculosis untilMs death in 1907.CHAELKS PORTER GOODYEAR. ' Only an intellect of extraordinary calibre,persistent grasp and broad sweep of abilities can win distinguished successin a special field already crowded with keen competitors and at the same timeretain fresh, balanced and vigorous faculties for the promotion and advancement of important public movements. Therefore, the character of CharlesPorter Goodyear is cast in no ordinary mold, for he not alone stands amongthe leading lawyers of Southeast Georgia, but during a long and usefulcareer has achieved a state-wide reputation as a clear and broad exponent ofmany of the most vital questions of industrial and civil reform which agitatethoughtful citizens.Mr. Goodyear was born at Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut,December 2, 1842, being named first in honor of the inventor, Charles, andsecondly after Doctor Porter, president of Yale College. On September 5,1871, lie was married to Miss Emma Frances Flint, and they became theparents of four children: Charles Porter, Jr., born in 1873; S. W., born January 13, 1876; Mary Ellis, born June 16, 1880; and Benjamin F., born in1884. While still residing in his native state, a youth of eighteen years, heenlisted, April 19,1861, in a Connecticut infantry regiment in the Union army,with which he served faithfully and bravely for four years, winning promotion from the rank of private to that of first lieutenant. When he returned to the duties of civilian life, Mr. Goodyear resumed his legal studies,which the war had interrupted, and was eventually admitted to the bar ofGeorgia. In 1874, on March 27th, he came to Georgia, and located at Brunswick, where he has since made his home and where his professional labors havebeen passed and his success gained. In 1874 he founded the firm of Goodyear& Harris, and four years later the firm of Goodyear & Kay, which becameone of the leading legal concerns of Southeast Georgia. While Mr. Goodyearis known as one of the foremost practitioners of the Glynn County bar, it is asa legislator, probably, that he is best entitled to the confidence and gratitude .of the people. As a member of the Georgia Legislature, he carried throughthe House legislation which resulted in the East Tennessee Railroad connecting Macon and the Macon & Brunswick connecting its system at Rome,Georgia, now the Southern Railroad. It was Mr. Goodyear who also deepenedthe harbor outer bar by the use of dynamite, this task being accomplished fromMay, 1891, to November, 1899, from eighteen feet at mean high tide to twentyfivefeet at mean high tide. When Mr. Goodyear began this movement, vesselsdrawing seventeen feet of water were frequently detained in the harbor forsix or seven weeks for lack of water on the bar. Today a vessel drawingthirty feet can go to sea without delay. From a tortuous channel Mr. Goodyear made it a straight and easy one. When he began dynamiting, the commerce of Brunswick amounted to about $5,000,000, while today its commerceis ten times that amount. Its exports have increased 311/2 per cent per yearending January, 1913.Mr. Goodyear has always been ahead of his city, but men of his stampare absolutely necessary to every live and progressive community. He wasthe author of the movement which brought the National Bank to Brunswick,and also brought here the Oglethorpe Hotel, the Brunswick Light and WaterCompany, the first street railroad, the range light system for the harborand many other things which have contributed to the importance and prestigeof the city of his adoption. As a lawyer he has a firm place in the confidenceand esteem of his fellow-practitioners, while his services as a citizen have beenof a value that may not be calculated. Truly, he -is one of Brunswick's moststirring and representative men.