St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-11-15
/Szz5NTorsM<~

day, surrounded by as many of his
descendants as could be present on
this remarkable occasion. A recep-
tion was rendered the old gentleman,
which was attended by 81 people.
Forty took dinner with Mr.. Good
win, including five of his children, six
grandchildren and nine great-grand-
children. Mr.. Goodwin was feeling
very we'll that day, and conversed
freely with the guests. He walked
out to dinner alone, and wrote his
name several times during the day in
the hand that is reproduced here
with.
OF the children that were present
J. Merrill is the oldest, IA years, and
Mrs. Elizabeth Temple is the young
est, being 81 years old. The oldest
grandchild present was 46 and the
Youngest 27. The oldest great
grandchild was 27 and the Youngest
four years old.
Of his children present, ]. Merrill
Goodwin lives at Newbury. William
also lives there, and Mrs. Leavitt
lives at Newbury Centre. Mrs. An
nette Farnham lives at Derry, N. H,
and Mrs. Temple at Manchester, N.
H.
Friends and neighbors came and
went, and JOY and good cheer held
high carnival the entire day. Though
the patriarch of Newbury is weak
ened in intellect by the weight of
years, he was bright and cheery, and
realized the event which gathered
around him his numerous posterity.
Many citizens called on the centena
rian during the day.
Sketch of His Life.
Wells Goodwin, the son of Moses Good
win and Iryphena his wife, was born on
the GRAY farm in Ryegate, Nov. 9, 1894.
There were several related Goodwin fam
lilies among the early settlers of Newbury
and Haverhill among whom was Jona-
than Goodwin, a cousin of Moses, whose
daughter Phebe died in Newbury in 1881,
in her 1O2d year.
His mother was daughter of James
Ladd and was born IN Haverh1ll IN
1772.
Soon after his birth his father returned
to Newbury, and lived on farm some
TWO H1lcS DdCk HUH lLS llNSIJ anu
worked out a number of years in his boy
hood, going to school some. He had
several brothers and sisters, all of whom
have long been dead, yet strange to say,
an aunt of his, a sister of his mothers.
although younger than himself is still
living in Corinth. His military service
began Feb. II, 1913, when he enlisted
for 1S months in the 11th U. S. Infantry,
of which Moody Bedell of Haverhill, was
L. .I.o4 = Il,
many toilsome marches, and besides
numb of small skirmishes, served in the
battles Of Chippewa, Prescott and Lun-
dy's Lane.
His last battle was fought July 25,
1914, on the bank of Niagara Falls, and
was one of the most hotly contested &C
tions in the new world before the civil
war. Mr.. Goodwin has been heard to
tell how the roar of the battle, which
was prolonged into the night, mingled
with the roar OF the cataract. Col. Be
del's regiment is mentioned with special
praise in the official report. 1t was one
of those opposed to the Glengary regi-
ment of Scotch Highlanders. In this bat
tie he received a wound in the leg, from
which he has suffered more or less ever
since, and for which in 1918 he received
a pension of ST per month dating back
to his discharge from the army. This
was increased to SO per month in 1852,
and within few years to $12.
He settled in Ryegate in 1918, as a
farmer and shoemaker, and was married
at Haverhill, by Rev. Grant Powers, Oct.
8, 1919, to Lydia, daughter of Daniel
and Martha (MerrilD Heath. She was
born at New Salem, N. H., Nov. 8, 1874,
and was just one day older than her hus-
band. Their married life lasted 6S years
one month and 10 days, until her death
at Newbury Dec. 81, 1887, in her 94th
year.
In the 1872 years that Newbury has