Goodacre, Lawrence
Lawrence Goodacre, who in his business career has ever been watchful of the indications pointing to success and through the improvement of opportunity and the employment of business methods that neither seek nor require disguise, has steadily advanced until he is now numbered among the prosperous merchants of Victoria, was born in Nottingham, England, on the 8th of October, 1848. He pursued his education in his native country and there learned the butcher's trade, at which he worked for five years after coming to British Columbia. His brother, John Goodacre, came to the province in 1864 and in 1866, having received favourable reports concerning the country and its opportunities, Lawrence Goodacre also came and soon afterward secured employment as a butcher.
The Queen's Market was established in 1858, by Thomas Harris, who was afterward mayor of the city. Mr. Hutchinson became the next owner and Mr. Goodacre entered his employ. Mr. Stafford was also in the employ of Mr. Hutchinson, and after a time entered into partnership with Mr. Goodacre for the purpose of buying out their employer and carrying on the business on their own account. They were together for five years, at the end of which time Mr. Stafford died and Mr. Goodacre then continued the business alone. About three years later he was married to the widow of his former partner. For a time John Dooley was partner of Mr. Goodacre in the business, but later the subject of this review became sole proprietor and remained alone until he admitted his sons into the business under the present firm style of Goodacre & Sons. The business, through the careful management and honourable methods of Mr. Goodacre, has become a large and profitable one, the trade steadily increasing. They never have any difficulty in retaining trade of old customers and are continually securing new patrons.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Goodacre have been born two sons and a daughter, all natives of Victoria. The sons, Samuel Roy and Samuel W. S., are both associated with their father in business and are active and capable young business men. The daughter, Louella Maude, resides with her parents.
In matters of citizenship Mr. Goodacre is public-spirited and progressive and has been the champion of many measures whose effect has been far-reaching and beneficial. He served as a member of the volunteer fire company of Victoria and is now one of the aldermen of the city, exercising his official prerogatives in support of every measure which he believes will promote the upbuilding and substantial improvement of his adopted city. His interest centers here, for he has made it his home through almost forty years, maintaining throughout the entire period the reputation of being a most reliable business man.
R. E. Gosnell, A History of British Columbia, (Vancouver, B. C.: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906). pp. 343-344.