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Submitted: 3/28/18 • Approved: 2/6/21 • Last Updated: 6/30/23 • R1215483-G0-S3
April 13, 1851 - August 8, 1930
Hugh W. Goodwin, farmer, El Dorado, Ark. A native born resident of the county, his birth occurring in 1851. Mr. Goodwin is now classed among the prominent sons of toil in the county. He was the eldest of four sons born to Peter D. and Malinda L. (Brown) Goodwin, the father a native of Old Dominion and the mother of South Carolina. The paternal grandfather, Robert Goodwin, was a farmer in Virginia, but left that State and moved to Alabama at an early day. He was one of the pioneers, and was killed by a negro slave. The maternal grandfather, Warren Brown, was also a native of Virginia, and removed to South Carolina where he was among the early settlers. He was an extensive planter, was married there, and became the father of twenty-four children. Later he emigrated to Arkansas, landing at Champagnolle on January 5, 1841. At the time of locating here all was wild and unsettled, and he blazed a road and penetrated about twelve miles into the interior. He located near where El Dorado was later founded and here he died. Peter D. Goodwin, father of our subject, remained in Alabama until 1841, and then came to Arkansas, where he remained one year in Union County. He then went back to Alabama, but in the latter part of 1843 returned to Arkansas and made a permanent settlement at El Dorado. He was a mechanic and erected the first house in El Dorado. He bought town lots, on which he erected houses, and later sold them, and also erected many houses for other people. He opened up quite an extensive farm near El Dorado, but sold this in 1849, and moved to Jackson Township, where he bought about 600 acres. On this he made many improvements, and although he started in life with limited means, he became quite wealthy, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1881, he was one of the representative and substantial men of the county. The mother died in 1876. Hugh W. Goodwin was reared on the farm, received his education in the common schools, and when twenty-one years of age engaged in tilling the soil for himself. In 1875 he bought his present property, consisting of 240 acres, forty acres of which he has cleared, and the timber on the same is good. He has made many and vast improvements, and the buildings of all kinds on his farm are comfortable and commodious. When twenty-one years of age, and before starting out for himself as a farmer, he clerked for about four years in the stores of El Dorado. He was deputy sheriff for two years under Sheriff Norris, and filled that position ably and well. He has always advocated the principles of the Democratic party, and is a public-spirited citizen. His marriage occurred in 1874 to Miss Ida Langford, a daughter of Judge William C. Langford [see sketch], and the fruits of this union were six children: Walter, Rose Garland, Martha, James Alvin, Julia and Jarvis. These children are all living and enjoy good health. Mr. Goodwin is a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge and the K. of P. The family belong to the Baptist Church. (Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas - Goodspeed Publishing Company - Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis - 1890)
Contributed on 3/28/18 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1215483