Goodwin family.

The Goodwin family imigrated to Brookville, Indiana in 1816 with Samuel Goodwin, a tanner from Ohio. His son, John Reeves Goodwin was a surgeon. He served with the 37th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. After the war he worked for the Department of Interior, organized a bank, and was a lay Methodist Minister. He was assassinated in Cincinnati while preparing to attend a Methodist convention. Another son, Thomas A. Goodwin was a well-known Methodist minister and writer. John R. Goodwin's son, Charles Francis Goodwin joined his father's bank. He married Martha Shirk, whose brother, John R. Shirk was a partner in the bank. John Pemberton Goodwin, the son of Charles and Martha, worked for a mining company in Arizona, joined the Brookville Bank, served in World War I, and was president of the Brookville Telephone Company. Later in life he became interested in historic preservation, was president of the Indiana State Library and Historical Board, and worked closely with Cornelius O'Brien on historic preservation.

From the description of Papers, 1838-1970. (Indiana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 64231544

The Goodwin family was among the earliest residents of Hartford, Ct. By the end of the 19th century, they had become quite wealthy and claimed extensive real estate holdings. When Major James Goodwin died in 1878, the administration of his estate and the family property was left in the hands of his two sons, James Junius (1835-1915) and Rev. Francis (1839-1923), who eventually left the pulpit to manage the family fortune. They are both associated with this manuscript group. Both men were prominent in their day. James J. served on many insurance company and banking boards, worked along side his cousin, J. Pierpont Morgan, and enjoyed membership in Hartford's civic and cultural organizations. Francis was educated to become an Episcopal clergyman and served as rector of Trinity Episcopal Church from 1865 to 1871. Francis served on the boards of Trinity College and Wadsworth Athenaeum among others. Interested in building design, he fashioned himself as an amateur architect. In the 1890s, he became a major promoter of parks and served as Hartford's street and park commissioner.

For the period covered by this collection, the Goodwin brothers were active in the construction of new buildings and additions to existing buildings for both private and commercial use. T.A. (Theodore Alden) Curtis was the supervisor of each of the projects. Curtis is identified as a building designer, specializing in public buildings as well as houses.

From the description of Papers, 1889-1893. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 84665863