GOODWIN, Jasper K.

GOODWIN, KELLEY, HOOKER

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/19/2003 at 00:46:34

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

JASPER K. GOODWIN

One of the most popular passenger conductors on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, residing in Clinton, is Jasper K. Goodwin, who was born in Durand, Illinois, December 26, 1858, and is the only surviving child of John and Mary J. (Kelley) Goodwin. Unto them were born three children, but one son died in infancy, and a daughter at the age of twenty-six years. The father entered the Union army during the Civil was, and was killed in the service when our subject was only three years old, but the mother is still living at the age of sixty-five years, and makes her home in Rockford, Illinois.

Mr. Goodwin lived with his grandfather in Rockton, Illinois, until sixteen years of age, and is indebted to the public schools of that place for his educational privileges. He then started out in life for himself and served a three years’ apprenticeship to the miller’s trade in Beloit, Wisconsin. He next went to Centralia, Missouri, where he worked for a time, meeting with good success, and subsequently was employed in the mills of Kansas City for two years. In July, 1880, he came to Clinton, Iowa, and entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, being brakeman on a passenger train with William Foote, conductor, for two years. During the succeeding year and a half he was on a freight train as brakeman, and in 1884 was promoted to conductor, running trains between Clinton and Boone. He remained in the freight service until 1897, when he was given a passenger run, and is now in charge of Nos. 25 and 16 coming back. In 1891 he purchased a home at No. 839 Eleventh avenue, which at that time was in a cornfield, but that locality is now all built up.

At Kansas City, in 1890, Mr. Goodwin married Miss Fanny M. Hooker, who was born in Rockton, Illinois, in 1870, but was principally reared in Kansas city, and educated in its public schools. Her father owned a dairy and fruit farm near that city, and there he died, but her mother’s death occurred in Des Moines, Iowa. Of the three children born to our subject and his wife one died in infancy. Those living are Harley H., who was born in 1891; and Kittie Helen, who was born in 1898.

Mr. Goodwin spent one year in Des Moines, having a run from that city to Ames, Iowa, during that time. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, and in his social relations is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic fraternity, while both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star Chapter of the latter order. Religiously she is a member of the Congregational church, and our subject gives to its support. He also belongs to Clinton Division, No. 33, O.R.C., and has held office in the same. His success in life is due entirely to his own unaided efforts, and he well merits the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens and business associates.