This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
 	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and
 	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle &
 	Co., Chicago, 1898. Pages 238, 241.

	Scan and OCR by Joy Fisher, 1997. This file may be copied for non-profit 
	purposes. All other rights reserved.


HON. JOSEPH T. GOODWIN, the present state senator from Day county, was 
born in Fayette, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1831, a son of Daniel and 
Martha (Coale) Goodwin, both of whorn lived and died in Pennsylvania. 
The father was a shoemaker by trade.

Our subject was educated in the common schools of Pennsylvania, and 
began life as a clerk when a young man and followed that vocation for 
twenty years. On August 23, 1863, he enlisted in Company K, Eleventh 
Michigan Calvary, having moved to Niles, Michigan, in 1855, and served 
to the end of the war, or until October, 1865, without receiving a 
wound. In July, 1865, the regiment was consolidated with the Eighth 
Michigan Cavalry, and was known by the latter name. Mr. Goodwin was 
mustered out as a second lieutenant. He participated in many skirmishes 
and several important battles, among which can be mentioned: Marion, 
Virginia; Saltsville, Virginia; and Salisbury, North Carolina.

After the close of hostilities Mr. Goodwin returned to Michigan and 
engaged in clerking until 1872, when he became a traveling salesman, 
and was thus engaged for fourteen years, traveling through Michigan and 
Indiana, and all principal cities north of the Ohio river. In 1883 he 
went West, and, the following year, located in Farmington township, Day 
county, on a claim. In 1885 he was elected county commissioner, serving 
in that capacity three years, and in 1888 he was elected county 
treasurer and served six years, or three terms; and in 1896, was 
elected state senator from Day county. Mr. Goodwin was the principal 
mover in getting the creamery started in Webster, and was secretary and 
manager of the same. This venture has been a marked success, its 
proceeds already more than equaling the cost of the plant.

Mr. Goodwin was first married in 1859 to Miss Sarah Williams and has 
one daughter by that marriage, Mrs. Cora Smith. His second marriage was 
to Miss Cora E. Knight, who became his wife in 1896. They have one son 
living: George Earle. Our subject is a Mason and a member of the G. A. 
R., and has been connected with the former order since 1858. In 
politics he is a Populist and has been successful in his political 
career, and is widely and favorably known throughout the county and 
state.