JOHN GOODBRAND, who now lives retired, was during his active years one of the successful farmers of Orford township, County of Kent, and he is still living on his fine farm of 120 acres, Lot 15, Concession 6, to which he came in the fall of 1875, from the County of Haldimand, Ontario.  He was born March 9th, 1834, in the town of Cullen, Banffshire, Scotland, son of Alexander Goodbrand and Elizabeth (Forbes) also of Cullen, who lived and died there.  The father was a gardner by occupation.

For seven years he served in the British army.  He died February 1st, 1891 in the 84th year of his age, which the mother died December 10th, 1850, aged 50; they were both members of the Established Church.  Their children were:  James of Banffshire, Scotland, who is a head gamekeeper of Scotland; Alexander, a police official in Chicago; Elizabeth, of London, Ontario, widow of William Buskirk; Charles, of Hamilton, Ontario, a farmer; Catherine, of Banffshire, Scotland, who married James Esson; William, governor of the poor house at Galashiels, Scotland; Isabella, unmarrried, who is in Scotland; Margaret, who died in Scotland, wife of James McClean; Walter, a farmer near Hamilton, Ontario; George, who died in infancy; and Thomas, a blacksmith of Dundas, Ontario.

On August 11th, 1859, in Hamilton, Ontario, John Goodbrand married Mrs. Jame (Gibson) Steel, and they had children as follows:  Alexander, a farmer of Orford township, married Anna Braun, and they have one child, Carrie; William J., a farmer of Orford township, married Jennie Newman; James S., who is with his father, married Sarah Bergey, and they have three children, Russel J., John H., and Robert F.; Jane, of the "Soo", Ontario married John Haining, a carpenter, and they have three children, John G., David G., and Jessie M.  Mrs. Goodbrand was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, March 19th, 1826, a daughter of Adam and Marian (Riddick) Gibson, farming people of Scotland, who remained in that country.  The father died January 29th, 1855, when 81 years of age, having been born in 1774; while the mother was born in 1786, and died July 29th, 1867.  They were conscientious members of the Presbyterian Church.  Their children were as follows:  John died in Ontario; Robert died in Ontario; Margaret died in Scotland; James is a retired school teacher in Scotland; William is also a retired school teacher in Scotland; Jane is the wife of John Goodbrand.

The first husband of Mrs. Goodbrand was James Steel, of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, who came to Canada in 1849, and located in Hamilton, Ontario, where he died July 22nd, 1857, aged 38 years.  He was a stone-cutter by calling.  The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Steel:  Marion, of Oil Springs, Ontario, married to Thomas Blaine; John a farmer of Orford township; Jesse, who died in infancy; and Maggie, of Howard township, wife of Walter McIntire, a farmer.

Mr. Goodbrand remained with his parents until he was 17 years of age, after which he learned blacksmithing, and followed it for 17 years.  He came to Canada in 1857, and located in Binbrook township, County of Wentworth, where he carried on his trade for 11 years more, at the end of that time purchasing a farm in the County of Haldimand, which he worked until he settled upon his present property.  In 1889 he erected his present handsome brick house, where he and his wife make their friends welcome with a generous hospitality.  In politics he is a Reformer, but does not desire office.  He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Goodbrand are very highly esteemed in their community, as kind neighbours and good friends, and they are enjoying their declining years surrounded by the comforts their industry has produced.

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