"William-Goodridge" {November 12,1805-January 15,1873}

He was born to an African American mama and an unknown white

daddy.Unfortunately little is known about his early years other than the fact that he and his mama were slaves.His master unexpectedly freed him when he was 16.William is said to have left York around 1822,and he learned the barber trade,possibly in Marietta,Pennsylvania.He returned to York between 1823 & 1825 and opened a barbershop on Centre Square,known today as Continential square.The barbershop grew into a grand,sky lighted photography studio and emporium.Historically,many free African Americans became barbers.It also known that their clientele was very diverse,and sought-after barbers like William were able to interact with prominent white citizens due to trust and respect William's interaction with influential white businessmen  allowed him to form his business decisions.

Due to his successful business transactions,by 1845,William had become a wealthy and talented businessman in York.Apart from being a retailer of various commodities,William owned  about twenty commercial and residential properties in York.In 1847,he built a five-story building known as centre Hall and is also credited with introducing the sales of daily newspapers in York.William also entered the railroad business with the Goodridge Reliance Line of Burthen Cars offering services between York,Philadelphia,and more 20 other cities.

William  put his wealth to good use by providing aid to the Underground Railroad.His Railroad operation often moved enslaved African-Americans on the way to freedom.His network on the Underground Railroad made him a key " conductor" and "station master." He befriended Frederick Douglass,John Brown,Frances Harper,Stephen Smith and other abolitionist change agents.On the third floor of the Goodridge building in Centre Square he concealed Osborn Perry Anderson following his participation with John Brown in the 1859 insurrection at Harper's Ferry.Osborn fled to Canada and was the only participant in that ill-fated event to survive thanks in part to William and members of Pennsylvania's Underground Railroad.After the Civil War,he remained a prosperous York businessman and his inpact on the community continued.

William moved from York to Minneapolis to live with his daughter,Emily,and her busband,Ralph Grey.The family had been in Minnesota since the late 1850's and was active in the anti-slavery movement in Minnesota.They were instrumental in helping a woman named Eliza Winston in 1860.The Grey's second son,Toussaint L' Ouverture Grey,named after the liberator of Haiti, was born in 1859,the first African-American Child born in St.Anthony.Toussaint died from died from hear disease on June 28,1868,at the 9.William died from congestive heart failure.He is buried in the Southwest corner of Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery next to his son,Glenalvin,and his grandson,Toussaint Grey.Despite the prominent role that William played in the underground railroad,his accomplishments have not been widely known in Minnesota.Once family members left the state,the location of his grave was forgotten.Friends of the Cemetery rediscovered in June 2003.