Background
He was the son of Doctor Thomas Goodsell (1775-1864) and Susan (Livingston) Goodsell (ca 1797-1864).
He was the son of Doctor Thomas Goodsell (1775-1864) and Susan (Livingston) Goodsell (ca 1797-1864).
He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor from 1866 to 1867. He was educated at the Utica Academy. He began work on the survey for the enlargement of the Erie Canal in 1840, and continued there until 1842.
Then he removed to Mobile, Alabama, to improve his health, and staid there until 1844. he was appointed Second Assistant Engineer of the State Canals in 1846, and from 1850 to 1853 was Resident Engineer at Albany, New New York
From 1853 to 1856, he was Chief Engineer of the Cape Fear and Deep River Railroad in North Carolina. From 1856 to 1860, he was Division Engineer of the Eastern Division, and from 1862 to 1866 of the Middle Division of the New York State Canals.
In 1863 and 1864, he was Supervisor of the Town of Utica. He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1866 to 1867, elected in 1865 on the Republican ticket, defeating Democrat Sylvanus H. Sweet.