Jonas Platt Goodsell
Encyclopedia
Jonas Platt Goodsell was an American civil engineer
and politician from New York
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
from 1866 to 1867.
He began work on the survey for the enlargement of the Erie Canal
in 1840, and continued there until 1842. Then he removed to Mobile, Alabama
to improve his health, and staid there until 1844. On November 27, 1845, he married Lavinia Maria Smith at Durhamville.
he was appointed Second Assistant Engineer of the State Canals in 1846, and from 1850 to 1853 was Resident Engineer at Albany, New York
. From 1853 to 1856, he was Chief Engineer of the Cape Fear and Deep River Railroad in North Carolina
. From 1856 to 1860, he was Division Engineer of the Eastern Division, and from 1862 to 1866 of the Middle Division of the New York State Canals. In 1863 and 1864, he was Supervisor of the Town of Utica. He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1866 to 1867, elected in 1865
on the Republican ticket, defeating Democrat Sylvanus H. Sweet
.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
New York State Engineer and Surveyor
The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was...
from 1866 to 1867.
Life
He was the son of Dr. Thomas Goodsell (1775-1864) and Susan (Livingston) Goodsell (ca. 1797-1864). He was educated at the Utica Academy.He began work on the survey for the enlargement of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
in 1840, and continued there until 1842. Then he removed to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
to improve his health, and staid there until 1844. On November 27, 1845, he married Lavinia Maria Smith at Durhamville.
he was appointed Second Assistant Engineer of the State Canals in 1846, and from 1850 to 1853 was Resident Engineer at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. From 1853 to 1856, he was Chief Engineer of the Cape Fear and Deep River Railroad in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. From 1856 to 1860, he was Division Engineer of the Eastern Division, and from 1862 to 1866 of the Middle Division of the New York State Canals. In 1863 and 1864, he was Supervisor of the Town of Utica. He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1866 to 1867, elected in 1865
New York state election, 1865
The 1865 New York state election was held on November 7, 1865, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, two Judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioners, an Inspector of State Prisons and the Clerk of...
on the Republican ticket, defeating Democrat Sylvanus H. Sweet
Sylvanus H. Sweet
Sylvanus Howe Sweet was an American civil engineer and politician from New York. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor from 1874 to 1875.-Life:...
.
Sources
- http://www.history.rochester.edu/canal/bib/whitford/old1906/vol2/chapter3.htm Engineer's bios, at Rochester history
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/goodroads-gorbey.html Political Graveyard
- http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/genealogy/robert2.htm Livingston family tree
- Life Sketches of State Officers, Senators, and Members of Assembly in the State of New York in 1867 by S. R. Harlow and H. H. Boone (pages 43ff; Weed, Parsons & Co., Albany NY, 1867)