The Colfax chronicle., 1902-05-17

at IL years; entereQ tne IOuIeiduo
Conference OF the NJ. e. Church, South,
In 1S47. when 10 years old; was frst
married to Miss Lucy A. Harper. at
Swan Lake Church, La, September
8, 1856, who lived but q few years,
and died leaving him an only child
Anne Elizabeth. This little one died
between the ages of and 4 years, In
1862. He was married November 10,
1862, at vicksburg, Miss. to Mrs. L.
N. Brown, whose two children--Mrs.
]. X. Holmes (nee Brown), OF Gal
weston, and w. N. Brown, OF Houston.
loved him as their own father; and
these, with the children OF this mar
riage-Mrv. H. c. Carter, OF San An
tonic; Mrs. w. M. Gunnel, OF Marlin,
and Mrs. ID. 8. MOfIit, Of Lott, Texas
survive him. At the close OF 1877
he transferred to the Texas Confer
ence; entered the superannuated
ranks 1899, and departed this lie,
from his home In Marlin, Texas, jan
nary 2, 1902, aged 73 years, 10 months
and IL days, being the first OF his I'M
mediate family to pass over the river.
These are but some of the prominent
dates of his history, and only hint at
the various services and experiences,
many sad and trying, many joyons
and beneficent, Of his long and useful
life. All, indeed, could not be fully
set forth in the space OF a short me
moir, but 1t is right that larger &C
count of his character and labOrs be
made, and It is with no little pleasure
that undertake this privilege.
DR.. GOODWIN loved the church, and
his life belonged to 1t. His parents
were christians, and the influences OF
their home were shown in the useful
and honorable careers OF their chill
dren. There were FIVE brothers In
Louisiana. he being the youngest OF
them, and all Of them were widely
and honorably known throughout
that State. The Others were Rev.
Philo NJ. Goodwin. Simeon =. Good
wyn, G. w. w. Goodwin and Harvey
H. Goodwin, OF whom all are dead
except the last named, now residing
In New Orleans. There were three
sisters. besides two half-eisters. His
first choice was to enter the practice
of medicine. and he began bending his
studies in that direction, but making
a profession Of religion when II years
ministry, he gave himself up to prep
y
i later Joined the Louisiana Conference,
where for thirty years he did the work
of an itinefant Methodist preacher,
serving charges from the humblest to
the foremost, occupying circuits, sta
ltions and districts. At three difler-
lent times he was pastor OF the church
lat Baton Rouge, the capital city, and
flor years he served In places OF trust
and honor. on different boards and
committees. Transferring to the
Texas Conference in 1877. he was sta
toned at st. Johns. Galveston, then
, the ranking station In our conference.
: His appointments in Texas were, sue
, cessively, Galveston, Bryan, Austin,
: Brenham, Huntsville, Chappell HILL
, Marlin and FlatOnia. Twenty-Five
/ years of active, earnest work wert
spent in these charges, and he left his
} impress on each. Our present hand
} some and cOmmOdiOus church Rt Aus
: tin is one of the results of his labor
? there. As In his formerconference, HI
: occupied prominent places In boards
. in the Texas Conference, serving fOl
: years as president Of the Boards o
y Education and Preachers, Aid. HI
y was q Curator of Southwestern Uni
: versity, and proved himself one OF tt
. most ardent supporters. Thus hi
t active ministry ran through NOR
!. than a half century Of years, hOuOrini
: the church, and In turn being honor
i ed of the church, and above all hav
, ing the blessings of God on 1T. Tn
I last three years OF his life were sl)en
b In the superannuated relation, ye
d these found him happy and useful 4
Il the local church. and present and az
t tive at each session Of the Annua
!. Conference. The conference was q
K occasion ardently looked forward tC
and from the time he entered the mir
q istry to the end OF bis life he neve
il missed its opening roll call. Th
y closing weeks of his life were file
b with privileges Of work and wOrkshi
b In q great revival visited upon Mai
% lin, and In attending the cOnferenc
b which met at Huntsville. His Gu
It was filed to overfiowing.
10 He was endowed by nature with
D genial, sunny disposition. and 1t ha
10 been cultivated. The world ha
- plenty of heart-aches and sorrow
n without his. What Of these he ha
y were not Obtruded upon others. Fe'
were they who found their heart
l. heavier because he had been wit
,e them. And this happy disposition
together with his gifts as a preache
ct made him q man sought after.
was never q hard thing, think.
nnd him an appointment.
The end came unexpectedly. yet q
most as he desired 1t. Facing Il
probability of much suffering by Il
q development Of his infirmity, he ha
% expressed q desire to escape 1t and
depart quickly when God should w
= to release him. He returned fro
conference somewhat indispOeed, bl
.. he had gotten able to he out agai
= He attended service on Sunday, al
In the afternoon was at the men
o. union prayer meeting. New Year
Day, IN conformity with custom
ty his, he visited q number Of frien'
mr. with greetings and wishes for Il
=. day. Returning home tired. but ha
q. py, he passed the hours pleasant
tai .ime to retire. About l1:30 O'clO,
q. he lay down and slept peaceful
Of Near 1 O'Clock his heavy breathli
Il awakened his wife, who summons
ho the family. They were not able
of do more than get to his bedside VIII
rn he quietly breathed his last, new
having regained consciousness, b
,is slipping away painlessly and peat
he fully. II the summons came sudden
ho 1t did not find him unprepared. VIII
,ss little business interests he had we