William Goodyear Dies At His Home

William Goodyear, retired business man, a founder of William Goodyear & Co., died suddenly this morning of a heart attack at his home at 1010 Lincoln Ave. He was 79 years old.
Mr. Goodyear was identified with the business life of Ann Arbor for half a century and the drygoods firm of which he was a founder and which has grown into the present thriving department store is observing its fiftieth anniversary this year.
Coming to Ann Arbor in the fall of 1888, Mr. Goodyear established a drygoods business at 118 S. Main St. in partnership with the late Bruno St. James with capital of $1,200. This firm of Goodyear & St. James continued until 1895 when Mr. Goodyear purchased his partner's interest and changed the firm name to William Goodyear & Co., although he conducted the business alone and it was not incorporated until 1921.
Mr. Goodyear continued as president until 1931. The firm has been situated at its present address at 124 S. Main St. since 1918. Mr. Goodyear was 29 years old when he came to Ann Arbor and previously had had 17 years of experience in the employ of drygoods firms in Detroit and Saginaw.
Former Alderman
Two terms on the city council as alderman from the sixth ward and service on the board of supervisors were included in Mr. Goodyear's civic record. He was a charter member of the Y. M. C. A.
Mr. Goodyear was a member of the board of trustees of the First Baptist church for many years and also served as assistant treasurer. With W. W. Beman, Mr. Goodyear raised the $2,000 needed for the purchase of the Baptist guild house property and he served the guild as treasurer for more than 20 years.
Among his business interests was the vice presidency of the Economy Baler Co.
Mr. Goodyear was born Sept. 29, 1859, in Detroit, and was married Oct. 10, 1888 in Detroit to Delia St. James of Detroit, sister of his business partner. They observed their fiftieth wedding anniversary last month.