Just across the river from Port Hudson, Michigan, stands the city of Sarnia, Ontario. Before the turn of the century, Sarnia was the home of a thriving business that would leave an indelible mark on the agricultural landscape of not only Ontario, but all of Canada, and several American States as well. Not unlike other companies of the day, this one, it its earlier years, would also see name changes as well as product line up changes.

By the turn of the century, however, the John Goodison Thresher Company was incorporated and no further name changes would take place for the next forty years. Also several previous products had been discontinues, leaving all company resources to focus on threshers and the development of both portable, and traction steam engines.

By 1903, the complete threshing outfit (engine and threshers) was available and with that came several years of prosperity. Since the company had no branches in Western Canada, the International Harverstor Company, by 1912 began distributing Goodison Threshers in that part of the country.

With the entrance of the tractor it became clear that Goodison would have to manufacture one of these modern power plants, or supply one from another source. Since manufacturing was not a consideration, the search began.

In 1918 the company presented its first tractor for Ontario. It was the Emerson Brantingham Model 12-20. Also in 1918, an agreement was reached with the John Deere Plow Company to distribute Goodison threshers in Western Canada.

The year of 1920 would prove to be one of great significance. Goodison would become a distributor in Ontario for the Hart-Parr Tractor Company of Charles City, IA. This agreement would form the beginning of the “Goodison Connection”.

During 1925 and 1926 the transition was made from the older wooden body threshers to the new all steel body units. This design would remain until production of threshers was discontinued. Also in 1926, because of the popularity of tractors, the decision was made to cease production of stream tractor engines. At this point in time, Goodison had no distribution branches in the United States, so a dealer organization was set up to distribute threshers in several states. This arrangement provided good success.

The rest of this article can be read in the Magazine issue #19