California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


  ROBERT E. LEE GOOD. The most extensive merchant in Clovis, Fresno county, Robert E. Lee 
Good is active in the upbuilding of the best interests of this place. He was born at St. Albans, W. 
Ya., April 19, 1868, the fourth in a family of twelve children, of whom ten are now living. His 
father, Thomas Good, was a son of Henry Good, both natives of Virginia, in which state the 
latter died. They were descended from an English family of prominence and occupied a position 
of importance in the development of the Old Dominion. Thomas Good removed to St. Albans, 
W. Va., improving a farm on the Great Kanawha river until his retirement, now making his home 
in that city at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, formerly Louisa Smith, was a native of West 
Virginia and the descendant of an old Virginia family. She died in the old home in 1886. 

The childhood of Robert E. Lee Good was spent on the paternal farms, while he received his 
education in the common schools. He remained at home until 1886, when he came to 
California, and in Fresno county engaged in the cultivation of a vineyard in the employ of M. F. 
Tarpey. He remained in that connection for ten years, six of which he acted as superintendent 
of the vineyard. In 1896 he entered upon a commercial career on the corner of Fourth and 
Front streets, where he has since been located. He bought these lots, which were then nothing 
but a wheat field, and put up a small building 24x36 feet, and established a general 
merchandise business. In 1900 he built a new store, 75x110 feet, built of brick, with a large 
warehouse 50x150 feet, with a capacity of forty thousand sacks. He carries a full line of dry 
goods, clothing, hardware, groceries, all kinds of produce and dried fruits, and has built up an 
extensive and lucrative trade. He is also interested in farming, conducting twelve hundred acres 
planted to wheat and barley, running five six-horse teams in the operation of the work. He has 
met with success and is esteemed as well for the qualities which have distinguished his 
citizenship. 

Near Clovis Mr. Good was united in marriage with Amy Clay, a native of Merced county. Cal, 
and the daughter of John A. Clay, an early settler. They became the parents of two children, 
George and Helen. Fraternally Mr. Good is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order 
of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the former of Fresno and the latter of 
Govis. Politically he is a stanch adherent of the principles advocated in the platform of the 
Democratic party, and is ex-member of the county central committee.