WI BIO - Dane Co - GODDARD, William K.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 130-131

William K. GODDARD, a farmer of Dane Township, Dane County, WI, was born in 
Sheffield County, Canada, in 1828, a son of William K. GODDARD, who was born 
in the same place in 1808. Our subject's grandfather, Abram GODDARD, was a 
farmer and blacksmith of VT. He married a Miss KELLOGG, a native of New 
England, and they had four sons and five daughters who grew to years of 
maturity. William K., the father of our subject, was married in Canada to 
Catherine PHILLIPS, also a native of New England. In the summer of 1848 they 
came with eight children to Milwaukee, WI, and later to Walworth County, WI, 
where they farmed on rented land until the fall of 1849. In that year the [p 
131] father purchased 160 acres of land in Dane Township, Dane County, WI, 
erected a log house, 20x22 feet, one and a half stories high, and there 
William K. GODDARD [the father] passed the remainder of his days, dying in 
Feb 1855, at the age of 46 years, leaving his widow with five sons and four 
daughters. Catherine (PHILLIPS) GODDARD afterward sold her interest in the 
farm, consisting of 40 acres, and removed to Warren, Jo Daviess County, IL, 
where she died in 1886, aged 75 years. Mr. and Mrs. GODDARD had three sons 
in the late war, Abram, who was discharged on account of sickness; Marshall 
N., who was with SHERMAN during the GA campaign, and served until the close 
of the struggle; and George O., who served but a short time.

William K. GODDARD, our subject, was early inured to hard labor, and his 
education was received in a district school three miles from his home. In 
company with his father and brother, he owned the home farm of 100 acres, and 
at his death the father deeded our subject 80 acres. Mr. GODDARD is engaged 
in farming and stock raising, growing oats, corn and wheat, but he gives 
special attention to the raising of Poland China hogs, of which he sells from 
20 to 40 head yearly. He also keeps about 7 head of horses, 20 head of 
horned cattle, and from 40 to 50 head of Shropshire sheep.

William K. GODDARD was married in 1854, at the age of 26 years, to Miss 
Clarissa BABCOCK, a native of St. Lawrence County, NY, and a daughter of John 
and Catherine (MILLER) BABCOCK, also natives of NY. They came to WI at a 
very early day, locating on a farm in Springfield Township, Dane County, 
where the father soon afterward died. The mother died at the home of her 
daughter about twelve years later. William K. and Clarissa (BABCOCK) GODDARD 
had three children: (1) Clarence E., a farmer of western KS, has two sons 
and two daughters; (2) Ada May, wife of George W. REYNOLDS, a farmer of 
Springfield Township, Dane County, WI, has one son and one daughter; and (3) 
Clarissa E., widow of W. C. RICE, a resident of Trempeauleau County, WI, has 
two daughters and one son. Clarissa (BABCOCK) GODDARD died eight years after 
her marriage, at the age of 26 years.

In Dec 1863, William K. GODDARD married Kate HULL, who was then visiting her 
uncle, HUGH YOUNG, in WI. She is a daughter of Hiram and Luna (BOSWORTH) 
HULL, natives of NY, but reared in OH, where their parents had moved at an 
early day. In 1872 Mr. and Mrs. HULL removed from OH to NE. Luna (BOSWORTH) 
HULL died in Jan 1890, at the age of 78 years, and Hiram HULL still resides 
at Kearney [Buffalo County], NE, aged 80 years. Two of their sons took part 
in the late war. William HULL was in the South, and has never been heard 
from since, and Lieutenant Joel HULL, now a resident of Minden [Kearney 
County], NE, served in the 115th OH Volunteer Infantry. He remained until 
the close of the war, and served principally on the frontier. William K. and 
Kate (HULL) GODDARD have had the following children: William H., of Mason 
City [Cerro Gordo County], IA; Edward C., a telegraph operator of Middleton 
[Dane County], WI; Elmer J., a farmer of Trempeauleau County, WI; Jesse H., 
Veda B., and Horton M., at home. William K. GODDARD is a stanch Republican 
in his political views, and has held the office of Postmaster. His wife held 
the same position at Hyers Corners [Dane County, WI] and at Acorn for eight 
years. Both are members of the Methodist Church. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly