1925 Biography - Benjamin L Goodman

Benjamin Leon Goodman. Prominent in public life and active and responsible in business affairs, no citizen of Amite, Louisiana, stands higher in public esteem than Mayor Benjamin Leon Goodman. He is a native of Louisiana, born in the capital city of Baton Rouge September 8, 1888, a son of Benjamin Joseph and Celeste (Mahier) Goodman, both now deceased.

Benjamin Joseph Goodman was born at Memphis, Tennessee, in 1837, spent his early years in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was educated at Tulane University, removing from there in early manhood to Baton Rouge, where practically the rest of his life was passed and where he gained distinction as an architect and builder. Among the structures still standing that mutely testify to his talent and skill may be mentioned: The Soldiers' Monument, on Boulevard Street ; the high school building, on Florida Street the school building on Schwartz Hill; the school building on Dufrocq Street; many public buildings and some of the finest residences in this beautiful city. He was one of the first licensed architects in the state, and at the time of his death, in February, 1922, was still foremost in his profession, and was serving in the office of city building and plumbing inspector of Baton Rouge. Earlier he was interested in local military affairs, and was captain of the Ogden Light Guards, was a member of the Order of Odd Fellows and was the organizer of Myrtle Camp No. 30, Woodmen of the World. He was a member of the Episcopal Church from youth. At Baton Rouge he was united in marriage with Celeste Mahier, born in Iberville Parish, and who died at Baton Rouge in 1908. They had five children born to them: Joseph, who died when twelve years old; Benjamin Leon; Myrtle Louise, who is a public school teacher in the McDonnough 14, New Orleans; James Ritson, who died in 1918, at the age of twenty-seven years, was in the United States Radio service at Camp Hancock, Georgia; and Robert Hart, an architect, who succeeded his father in the firm of Ben J. Goodman & Son. He is a veteran of the World war, during his year of service in the infantry being stationed at Camp Stafford, Alexandria.

Although he never had collegiate advantages, Mayor Goodman had thorough educational training, first in St. Vincent's Academy and afterward in the Baton Rouge High School, where during his senior year he came under the direct instruction of Prof. T. H. Harris, who is now state superintendent of education. When seventeen years old he left school and found exercise that developed muscle as a worker in a boiler shop for the next year, when he entered the office of Dannenmann & Charlton, architects, at New Orleans. In 1908, two years later, he came first to Amite, as an employe in the machine shop of the Gullett Gin Company, eighteen months later accepting a clerkship in the store of D. H. Sanders, where he continued until 1919. During this interval he not only made rapid advance along business lines, but became active in democratic politics and served on the City Council of Amite during 1914-15, and in 1918 was elected mayor of Amite, from which office he resigned when, in 1919, he was elected superintendent of streets and parks at Baton Rouge. After serving with entire satisfaction for one year Mr. Goodman decided to return to Amite, in 1920, where he accepted the management of the hardware department of B. Stern Company, Ltd., a responsible position he still fills. In July, 1923, his fellow citizens of Amite testified in a most convincing way as to the confidence and esteem in which they hold him by again electing him mayor of the city for a term of two years. He is a valued member of the Chamber of Commerce, and officially and otherwise has given support to substantial enterprises of worthy aim that have added to the general welfare here.

Mayor Goodman married Miss Mary Adaleen Sanders, who is a daughter of Daniel H. and Mollie (Edwards) Sanders, the former of whom is one of the oldest established merchants at Amite. Mrs. Goodman is a graduate of Witworth College, Mississippi, and completed her musical education in the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. They have an adopted son, Robert. The family home is a beautiful resident on Mulberry Street, and the Mayor also owns a garage building on Railroad Avenue. With his family he belongs to the Amite Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he has been a steward. He is a member of Amite City Lodge No. 173, A. F. and A. M., and of Amite Camp No. 44, Woodmen of the World.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, page 172.