MILLER CO, AR - JAMES GOODWIN - Bio From _The Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas_, Published 1890 by Goodspeed. Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis: The Goodspeed Publishing Co. 1890 Submitted by: Becky Hargett ====================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. ====================================================================== James Goodwin lives on a farm three miles south of Texarkana, which, with the aid of a most practical wife, he has purchased and brought to its present high state of cultivation, and he is usually spoken of as one of the prosperous agriculturists of this section. His wife, to whom he was married on September 24, 1864, was formerly Miss Louisa Mays, daughter of R. F. Mays [see sketch]. and was born near Clarksville Tenn., on January 7, 1847. They are the parents of one child, a son, Joseph W., who is at Lewisville, Lafayette County, Ark. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and are highly spoken of by their neighbors and friends. During the year 1887, Mr. Goodwin was engaged in the milling business near Texarkana, Bowie County, Tex., with C. W. Noland as a partner, but he now devotes his attention exclusively to cultivating his excellent farm. He first saw the light of day in Jefferson County, Ala., on January 26, 1842, being a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Tate) Goodwin, natives of Alabama and Kentucky respectively. For a number of years after their marriage they made their home in Alabama, but while our subject was still a boy they moved to Tippah County, Miss., residing here but a short time, and then moved to Rusk County, Tex. In 1860 they came to Miller County, Ark., and here made their home until their death, which occurred in 1874 and 1887, respectively. The father was in his sixty-eight year at the time of his death, and the mother died at the age of sixty, and both passed away in full communion with the Missionary Baptist Church. The father tilled the soil all his life, and was always well rewarded for his labors, but he enjoyed a good living, and usually spent his money for that purpose, and died comparatively poor in this world's goods. He was a Mason, and belonged to the Democratic party. James R. Goodwin was the third of ten children born to their marriage, only eight of whom are now living. His school days were spent in Mississippi and Rusk County, Tex., whither he had gone with his parents, and in 1862 he accompanied them to Miller County, Ark. In October, 1862, he joined Co. Gravestone's regiment, Gen. Tappin's brigade, Gen. Churchills' division, in which he served until the close of the war, surrendering at Marshall, Tex., on June 5, 1865. During this time he participated in many hard battles, among them being Prairie Grove, Jenkins' Ferry, and the battle below Shreveport. At Prairie Grove he received a slight gunshot wound in the left shoulder. He served with credit, part of the time as sergeant, and at the close of the war returned to his home. He was possessed of a small amount of stock, and turned his attentions to farming in this neighborhood, first purchasing seventy-eight acres of land, to which he has since added the balance of his present valuable farm. He is a staunch Democrat in politics. ======================================================================