My Genealogy Hound

JOHN T. GOODWIN. Until his death, March 2, 1895, Mr. Goodwin was a well-to-do farmer of Johnson County, owning a good homestead on section 11, township 45, range 27. He was comparatively a new-comer in this vicinity, as he had lived here for less than fifteen years, but became very popular with his neighbors and acquaintances. He made a specialty of raising draft horses, for which he found a ready sale in the home markets. He embarked in his business on a moderate scale and became the possessor of a good fortune. He made many improvements on his farm and took an active part in everything relating to the advancement of this community. Though an ally of the Democracy, he never allowed his name to be used in connection with a political position.

John Goodwin, the father of our subject, was born in Staffordshire, England, about sixty-five years ago. His father, Thomas Goodwin, emigrated to the United States with his family about 1844, and died on land which he had purchased in Madison County, Ill., a few years after his arrival there. While in England he was connected with an ironstone-china manufacturing concern. His wife died in 1842, in her eighty-second year. John Goodwin was a youth of fourteen when he reached the United States. He had worked with his father in the flintmills and had partially learned the trade. When in his eighteenth year he entered the employ of the company that put up the first saw and grist mill at Bunker Hill. Alton being the nearest shipping point, he hauled a set of burrs from there to Bunker Hill by ox-team. He has lived in that locality up to the present time and owns a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres in his home place. Altogether he is the possessor of six hundred and forty acres, lying in Shelby and Macoupin Counties, Ill., and Johnson County, Mo.

About 1853 John Goodwin married Elizabeth M. Wood, a descendant of an old pioneer family of Illinois, and born in Macoupin County, February 3, 1835. Her ancestors crossed the Atlantic from England in 1753, and settled first in Tennessee, later moving to Kentucky, and thence to Illinois. In her girlhood days Mrs. Goodwin attended the Pleasant Hill School, in which her children subsequently received their education. Ten of the number grew to maturity, and James and Albert died in infancy. George E. is more fully referred to elsewhere in this work; John T. was the next in order of birth; Emma J. became the wife of James Hale, of Center View Township, this county; Frank A. is mentioned on another page in this volume; A. L. is a farmer of Bunker Hill Township, Macoupin County, Ill.; W. W. is a resident of Madison Township, this county; Mary E. lives with her parents; Lillie Ann died in December, 1884, when eighteen years of age; Hester married Ernest Shrier, and is now deceased.

John T. Goodwin was born April 29, 1857, near Bunker Hill, Ill., and received a district-school education. He obtained a general knowledge of agricultural pursuits on his father’s farm, where he lived until his marriage. That event occurred November 18, 1880, the lady of his choice being Sarah, daughter of James and Anne (Whitaker) Maguire, natives of County Fermanagh, Ireland. They settled in Pike County, Ill., in their early married days, and both died there. The mother departed this life when Mrs. Goodwin, was only an infant, and, as her father died eight years later, she was reared by an aunt. A little daughter, Lucy by name, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin.

Our subject was quite a geologist and had made a fine collection of fossils, Indian relics, etc. He was Master Workman in Center View Lodge No. 359, A. O. U. W., and represented the same in the Grand Lodge of the state. Mrs. Goodwin is a member of the Christian Church, to which body her husband also belonged. Mr. Goodwin’s death was caused by the accidental discharge of a gun, and his demise was mourned as a public loss.