Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Goodwine, Louis 1838 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 16, 2006, 3:06 am Author: Jackson Morrow LOUIS GOODWINE. The history of Howard county is not a very old one. It is the record of the steady growth of a community planted in the wilderness a half century ago and has reached its magnitude of today without other aids than those of industry. The people who redeemed its wilderness fastnesses were strong-armed, hardy sons of the soil, who hesitated at no difficulty and for whom hardships had little to appall. There was also other work to be done, work of various kinds. Their efficient efforts have been fully appreciated by those who came at a later period and builded on the foundation which they laid so broad and deep. Among the first class is the prominent citizen of Kokomo whose name introduces this sketch. While his arrival was not as early as some, yet he came in the formative period and has done much to develop the wonderful resources of a county that now occupies a proud position among the most progressive and enlightened sections of Indiana, the subject having lived in this city for over a half century, and not only has he benefited himself by his residence here, but also the community in various ways. Louis Goodwine was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in February, 1838, and received what education the times afforded in Franklin county, Ohio. But while his early educational advantages in the district schools were not what they should have been, Mr. Goodwine is a close observer and has since gained a wide fund of information by coming in contact with the world and by home reading. Mr. Goodwine began to learn the carpenter's trade when nineteen years old, in 1858, and he has never worked at anything else, having made a pronounced success at this profession from the first, possessing not only the natural ability, but also the other necessary traits or persistence and fortitude that are prerequisites of such a calling. He came to Kokomo in March. 1855, and located on Sycamore street, which was then a country road. Since that time he has seen the wonderful development of the community and profited by the advance in industrial affairs. At present he owns a substantial, commodious and nicely furnished brick residence at the corner of Market and Mulberry streets, where he has resided for some time. In June, 1864, our subject began contracting, and since that time he has erected a large number of dwellings and business houses in Kokomo. The first year he launched in this business he built the elevators where C. M. Barlow now does business. Among other important buildings which he has erected may be mentioned the Howard National Bank, half the block on Main street where Vailes' shoe store is located, from the blue-front up, the Schwanger block and several other big buildings, besides numerous dwellings of various types. The subject has long been regarded one of the best architects and foremost contractors of Howard county. He has a reputation for not only having a thorough knowledge of the building business, but his scrupulously honest methods insure him all the work he can attend to. Our subject has been thrifty ever since he came to Howard county, and he has gotten possession of a valuable and highly productive farm of seventy acres in Harrison township. Mr. Goodwine was united in marriage to Frances Jane Lightner, January 22, 1861. She is a native of Logansport, Indiana, and the daughter of George E. and Henrietta (Orwick) Lightner, natives of Pennsylvania. They were influential people in their native community. Two children have been born to the subject and wife, one of whom is living, Etta, who is the wife of Ralph E. Scora, manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Muncie, Indiana. She is a graduate of the Kokomo high school. They have two sons, who are seven and four years old in 1908. The subject and wife are members of the Main street Christian church, being liberal givers to the same and taking a great interest in the affairs of that congregation. Politically Mr. Goodwine is a Republican, but he does not find time to take an active part in political affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwine are well and favorably known to the major part of the residents of Kokomo, where most of their well ordered lives have been spent and where their hospitality, kindness, uprightness and loyality to the church and the government have made them popular and won them scores of admiring friends. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/goodwine329nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb