William O. Goodman
Encyclopedia
For other uses, see William Goodman (disambiguation).
William Owen Goodman (1848–1936) was an American lumber tycoon. He was born in Wellsborough, Pennsylvania to Owen and Susan (Barber) Goodman in 1848. His parents died at an early age and he was raised by various members of his family living in different areas throughout Pennsylvania such as Columbia
and Athens
. He later came to Chicago
at the age of 20 in 1868. He first worked as a bookkeeper and then a salesman for the Menominee River Lumber Company. He began investing in lumber on his own and in 1878 he married Erna Sawyer and with his new brother-in-law formed the Sawyer-Goodman Company of which he eventually became president of.
Goodman is famous for helping to found the Goodman Theatre
through a gift of $250,000 made to Art Institute of Chicago
. The donation was made in memory of his son Kenneth Sawer Goodman, a playwright who died at the age of 35 during the 1918 flu pandemic. His son had written and produced a number of different plays throughout Chicago and had envisioned a theater which embraced the best professional training and performance standards.
He is also notable for employing architect Howard Van Doren Shaw
to build both a tomb memorializing his son as well as his mansion in the expensive Gold Coast District
. His former residence is on Astor Street which was given landmark status in 1975 by then mayor Richard J. Daley
.
William Owen Goodman (1848–1936) was an American lumber tycoon. He was born in Wellsborough, Pennsylvania to Owen and Susan (Barber) Goodman in 1848. His parents died at an early age and he was raised by various members of his family living in different areas throughout Pennsylvania such as Columbia
Columbia, Pennsylvania
Columbia, once colonial Wright's Ferry, is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles southeast of Harrisburg on the left bank Susquehanna River across from Wrightsville and York County. Originally, the area may have been called Conejohela Flats, for the many islands and islets in the...
and Athens
Athens, Pennsylvania
Athens is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, two miles south of the N. Y. State line on the Susquehanna and Chemung rivers. Population in 1900, 3,749; and in 1910, 3,796. The population was 3,415 at the 2000 census...
. He later came to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
at the age of 20 in 1868. He first worked as a bookkeeper and then a salesman for the Menominee River Lumber Company. He began investing in lumber on his own and in 1878 he married Erna Sawyer and with his new brother-in-law formed the Sawyer-Goodman Company of which he eventually became president of.
Goodman is famous for helping to found the Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre
The Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of Chicago theatre, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization...
through a gift of $250,000 made to Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
. The donation was made in memory of his son Kenneth Sawer Goodman, a playwright who died at the age of 35 during the 1918 flu pandemic. His son had written and produced a number of different plays throughout Chicago and had envisioned a theater which embraced the best professional training and performance standards.
He is also notable for employing architect Howard Van Doren Shaw
Howard Van Doren Shaw
Howard Van Doren Shaw was an American architect. He became one of the best-known architects of his generation in the Chicago area.-Early life and career:...
to build both a tomb memorializing his son as well as his mansion in the expensive Gold Coast District
Gold Coast Historic District (Chicago, Illinois)
The Gold Coast Historic District is a historic district in Chicago, Illinois. Part of Chicago's Near North Side community area, it is roughly bounded by North Avenue, Lake Shore Drive, Oak Street, and Clark Street....
. His former residence is on Astor Street which was given landmark status in 1975 by then mayor Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
.