Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders." Vol. 2. Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 741. MRS. MARY J. GODDARD Mrs. Mary J. Goddard, a resident of Vancouver, was born in Illinois in 1849. Her parents, J. H. and Ann E. Alexander, removed from Illinois to Kansas in 1856 and after two years spent in the Sunflower state made the long journey across the plains with ox teams to the territory of Oregon. There were seven wagons and fourteen men in the train and they were five months in completing the trip, experiencing the usual hardships that occurred through lack of finding adequate water and pasturage for the stock as well as the weariness which came with the journey day after day over poorly broken roads. They made their way direct to Vancouver where resided Mrs. L. Marble, the grandmother of Mrs. Goddard. Mr. Alexander was a fanner by occupation and devoted the early years of his residence in this state to general agricultural pursuits, but later became a minister of the United Brethren church and took active part in promoting the moral development of this section of the country. A life of uprightness and wide influence was ended when, in 1893, he was called to his final rest. His wife survived him for about seven years and passed away in 1900. They left a family of eight children, all of whom are yet living. Their daughter, Mary J. Alexander, was a little maiden of nine years when the trip was made to the northwest. She spent her girlhood days under the parental roof, was trained to the work of the household and was thus well qualified to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage. In 1865 she became the wife of Charles Goddard, who arrived in Vancouver in 1852. He was a farmer and carpenter and following their marriage they began their domestic life in the vicinity of Vancouver. For a number of years they conducted an extensive dairy business on the river bottom near the city. Mrs. Goddard was at all times a faithful helpmate as well as companion to her husband, and the success which he achieved was attributable in no small measure to her efforts. The death of Mr. Goddard in April, 1906, was deeply regretted not only by his immediate family but also by those whom he had won as friends. Following his demise his family removed to a ranch of twenty acres which they own and which has since been their home. It is a good, improved property, two acres being planted in fruit. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Goddard were born ten children who are yet living: Mrs. L. Leeper, a resident of Manner, Washington; Mrs. M. I. Vandorn, whose home is at Battle Ground, Washington; Mrs. Ollie Cramer, living in Portland; Mrs. E. J. Lind, of Eureka, Washington; Mrs. C. M. Miller, of Spokane; Mrs. Ethel Dobbs, of Vancouver; Charles Asa, also living in Spokane; James H., whose home is in Detroit, Michigan; Willis, at home; and John W., who is likewise at home. Mrs. Goddard also has twenty grandchildren. She well deserves mention among the early settlers of this part of the country, having for more than a half century lived in the Columbia river valley, the wonderful development and transformation of which she has largely witnessed as its forests have been cut down to make way for fields of waving corn or productive orchards, while here and there towns and cities have sprung up, bringing to the west all of the commercial and industrial interests and advantages known to the older east. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.