R. B. Goodrich
During the greater period of his business career, R. B. Goodrich has concentrated his energies upon the development of the Eagle Manufacturing Company, of which he has been president since 1900. He is another of the enterprising sons of Cincinnati, his birth occurring in November 1876, and his parents being Charles Taylor and Ann-Brown Goodrich. The father, who was a native of Petersburg, Virginia, came to this city in 1850, obtaining employment as a salesman with a wholesale fur house, with which he continued to be identified until he engaged in the wholesale fur, cap and glove business himself. He remained connected with this line until 1884, at which time he disposed of his interests and lived retired until his demise in December 1903. Mrs. Goodrich still resides in the old home on College Hill.
In the pursuit of his preliminary education, R. B. Goodrich attended the public schools until he had attained the age of about fifteen years when he entered Belmont College, remaining in that institution for four years. At the expiration of that period, he laid aside his textbooks to assume the heavier responsibilities of life, beginning his business career as a clerk with John Shillito & Company. For two years he remained a member of their clerical force, beginning at a salary of six dollars per week and being rapidly promoted, withdrawing at the end of that time because he had obtained an interest in the Eagle Manufacturing Company, about 1897. He immediately became identified with that company, ultimately being made manager and continuing in that position until 1900. In the latter years, they incorporated and Mr. Goodrich became president, the duties of which office, he has most capably discharged for the past nine years. This company, which is one of the enterprising industries of the city, engages in the manufacture of a general line of metal specialties, including special dies, tools and machinery, in the production of which they employ the services of seventy-five people. The scope of their activities has very rapidly developed during the past sixteen years, the demand for their wares having increased until their sales department includes a large and constantly increasing foreign as well as domestic branch. The financial success of their undertaking has been most practically demonstrated, by the erection of a substantially constructed, five-story steel and concrete building, in which they are now located. It contains thirty thousand feet of floor space and has been entirely equipped with new machinery and all manner of modern improvements and conveniences to facilitate the work, as well as for the comfort of the employees, being in every way, a modern structure of its kind. Mr. Goodrich is financially interested in the West End Bank & Trust Company, of which he is a director.
Fraternally, Mr. Goodrich is identified with the Masonic order, in which he has attained high rank, having taken the thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite as well as those of the York. He is not married, and his religious faith is manifested through his affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Business Men’s Club. Being very fond of outdoor life, Mr. Goodrich is an auto enthusiast, enjoys tennis and devotes as much time as he can spare from his business, during the seasons, to hunting and fishing. His political support he accords the candidates of the republican party, always having been an ardent advocate of its policy, which he considers to be the best adapted to sub serve the interests of the majority.
From Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III by Rev. Charles Fredric Goss, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912