Goodwell

Goodwell Township

43.35.947N

085.37.332W

The Goodwell Township site is typical of rural Newaygo County, well tended but most monuments are quite modest. In 1922, Romie Hodell was found dead, hanging in a rented barn. Three months earlier Romie's father had died under suspicious circumstances. A suicide note was found but a subsequent investigation ruled the death a murder, and his wife Meda as well as mother-in-law and brother-in-law were implicated. The case was quite sensational, and involved police coercion, threats, and retrials. At one point, two of Meda's brother's were attacked by a "lynch mob", and were tortured by being hung from a tree until they confessed. In the end, there were no convictions, although Meda was convicted of murdering her father-in-law David Hodell (who is buried in the Ashland Township cemetery) . Romie Hodell was buried in this location but later exhumed, and despite persistent rumors that he was not returned, his monument remains. For the record, I do not believe that Meda Hodell, was responsible for or involved in either of these deaths. If you are interested in more information regarding this fascinating event in Newaygo County history, please feel free to contact me at tomfury2000@yahoo.com.