Frank H. Goodyear

Frank Henry Goodyear (March 7, 1849 – May 13, 1907) was an American businessman, lumberman, and member of the prominent Goodyear family of New York. He was the founder and president of several companies, including the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad, Great Southern Lumber Company, Goodyear Lumber Co., Buffalo & Susquehanna Coal and Coke Co., and the New Orleans Great Northern Railroad Company. Early life Goodyear was born on March 7, 1849, in Groton, New York, but soon after his birth, the family moved to Holland in Erie County. He was a son of Dr. Bradley Goodyear (1816–1889), and Esther Permelia ( Kinne) Goodyear (1822–1907). His elder brother was Charles W. Goodyear, who was the father of Anson Goodyear. His father had been a tailor until Bradley's uncle, Dr. Miles Goodyear, president of the Cortland County Medical Society persuaded him to study at Geneva Medical College. He attended the district school and East Aurora Academy before Frank began teaching in the district school. Career After his stint as a teacher, Frank began working as a bookkeeper for Robert Looney, a native of the Isle of Man, at Looneyville, New York. Looney ran a farm, sawmill, general store, and feed and grain business, and owned vast timberlands in Pennsylvania. Frank married Robert's daughter Jospehine in 1871. When Robert died in 1872, they inherited the timberlands from her father's estate. Goodyear, who had moved to Buffalo before Looney's death, used the inheritance to start his lumber business and enterprises.