Charles Goodyear (politician)

Charles Goodyear (April 26, 1804 – April 9, 1876) was a banker, attorney, and politician from New York. He was most notable for his service as a United States representative from 1845 to 1847 and 1865 to 1867.

Early life
Goodyear was born in Cobleskill, New York on April 26, 1804, the son of Jared Goodyear and Bede (Ives) Goodyear. He attended Hartwick Academy in Otsego County and graduated from Union College in 1824. He studied law with Henry Hamilton, was admitted to the bar in 1826 and commenced practice with Hamilton in Schoharie, New York.

Start of career
A Democrat, he was Schoharie's town supervisor from 1834 to 1837. In 1840 he also served in the New York State Assembly.

Goodyear was appointed first judge of Schoharie County in February 1843 and served until November 1847.

Tenure in Congress
Goodyear was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served in the 29th Congress (March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847). During this term, Goodyear was a member of the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

He did not run for reelection and resumed the practice of law in Schoharie. In 1852 he established the Schoharie County Bank, of which he was president.

In 1864 Goodyear was again elected to the U.S. House, and he served in the 39th Congress (March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867). His committee assignments during this term included the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions and the Committee on Private Land Claims. He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1866 and resumed the practice of law in Schoharie.

Later career
Goodyear was a delegate to the National Union Convention in 1866 and to the 1868 Democratic National Convention. In 1868 an investment bank in which Goodyear was a partner, Goodyear Brothers & Durand, became insolvent. After liquidating his New York assets and property to help pay the firm's debts, in 1869 Goodyear moved to Charlottesville, Virginia. He practiced law in Virginia and in 1869 received an appointment from Virginia's post-Civil War military government as a justice of the peace for Albemarle County.

Death and burial
Goodyear died in Charlottesville on April 9, 1876, and was interred at Maplewood Cemetery in Charlottesville, Division E, Block 8, Section 7.

Family
In 1835, Goodyear married Charlotte Seitz Gebhard (1815–1887) of Schoharie. They were the parents of three children—Charles A., George G., and Mary.