Samuel & Mable Goodwin

GOODWIN ROBBINS SMITHWICK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/27/2010 at 22:23:45

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Samuel and Mable Robbins Goodwin
By Mr and Mrs Gerald Goodwin

Samuel H Goodwin was born November 29, 1868, at Spring Lake, near Nashua, Iowa. He died November 1, 1958, at Correctionville. He was the son of Moses and Jane (Smithwick) Goodwin. Moses was born in England. Jane was born in Ireland in 1834 and died at Correctionville in 1976. Moses and Jane met on a ship coming to America, and settled and made their home at Nashua, Iowa.

In the summer of 1869, the family moved to Union Township, Woodbury County. The family came in a covered wagon, drawn by two oxen, named Duke and Dime. Also coming to western Iowa were Jane’s sister and her husband, and Mr and Mrs Harry Smithwick and son Henry. A family by the name of Sullivan were also with this assemblage of pioneers. The group arrived in Woodbury County, July 5, 1869. Moses and Jane’s son, Samuel, was nine months old at the time of their pilgrimage.

The Goodwin family settled on the northwest quarter of Section three, Union Township. The Smithwick family settled on the west half of northeast quarter of Section ten, in Union Township.

When Samuel was seven years old, his mother died and he was left with his uncle and aunt, in the Harry Smithwick home. A year later, his aunt died, leaving with his Uncle Harry and cousin, Henry. The family first lived in a sod house. Samuel remembered having to replace the sod on the roof during rain and wind storms. A small wood house was built close to the year of 1880. In 1903 a larger house was built; it is still on the farm.

Before the time of fences, early settlers would milk their cows in the morning, and then take them to a corral. One corral was located on the Richardson land near Pierson Creek in Section four, and another one was built near the Little Sioux River. A herdsman would herd the cattle all day as they grazed on prairie grass. In the evening a family member would return to the corral for the cows, and then take them home for the evening milking and to remain over night. As a boy this was Samuel’s chore. The cattle were branded with a small branding iron, on the horn or the hoof.

Samuel Goodwin was married to Mable Clair Robbins on August 10, 1896 at Cherokee, Iowa. Mable was born March 13, 1872, near Correctionville and died May 1962. She was the daughter of Martha (Coe) Robbins, who acquired their homestead in Union Township, Section fifteen, in the year 1866. Mable grew to womanhood helping with the family work and as a house helper for others in the area. When she was eighteen yeas of age, on July 4th, the family log house was destroyed by fire, including all of their belongins. The family was away from home at the time of the fire. A seven room wooden house was built in 1889 that included a cellar.

After Samuel and Mable were married they lived on the homestead where Samuel lived as a boy. His cousin, Henry Smithwick, lived in the home until his death in 1938.

They remained on this farm for fifty years and in 1946 they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. In December the same year they moved from their farm into the town of correctionville. Their son, Gerald and family moved to the farm that they vacated. This farm has now been recognized as a century farm.

On August 10, 1956, the Goodwins celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary at their home in Correctionville. Both lived to be ninety yars old.

Samuel and Mable were parents of three children.

Iris Beatrice was born at Correctionville, October 1, 1897 and died April 1977. Iris married Vinton Wright, also of Correctionville. The Wrights farmed in Union Township until 1940. They moved to Lake Park, Iowa, where they operated a variety store. They remained in Lake Park until their deaths.

Ruth Delia was born at Correctionville, August 4, 1900. She was a rural school teacher before her marriage to Marvin Crom. They are the parents of a son, Phillip. Ruth and Marvin lived in Ida Grove, Iowa, for a number of years where Marvin operated a barber shop. The Croms now live in Redwood City, California.

Gerald Samuel was born at Correctionville, Iowa, April 13, 1910. He was married to Faye Utesch on March 9, 1933. They are the parents of three children: Lee, Keith and Karen.