My Genealogy Hound

Mark Goodwin, a well-known farmer of Lawrence County, was born in Jefferson County, Ala., in 1843, and came to Arkansas with his parents, Wyche and Maria (Sharp) Goodwin, when very young. Mr. Goodwin has resided in Arkansas ever since, and on reaching his twenty-second year he married and settled on the farm where he is at present living. He is a practical farmer, and thoroughly versed in the details of cotton ginning, which business he operates in conjunction with his brother, George Goodwin. They purchased a gin in 1887, and in the following year ginned 160 bales of cotton, with marked success. Mr. Goodwin at one time devoted his attention to cabinet-making, but finding that his farm would claim all of his energies, he turned in that direction and has since followed the occupation of farmer. His first marriage was with Miss Frances Roney, of Arkansas, who died, leaving two children — Samuel and Laura, the latter now dead. His second wife was Miss Sarah Saffell, also a native of Arkansas, who shortly followed in the footsteps of his first wife, leaving one child, an infant, that did not survive her long. Mr. Goodwin was married in 1867 or 1868 to his present wife, Miss Margaret Williams, a daughter of Samuel Williams, a farmer and extensive stock dealer, of Lawrence County. The fruits of this union were eight children, six girls and two boys, whose names are: Ida, Joseph, Milton, Ella, Lena, Addie, Mandie, Nora — all of them living. Mr. Goodwin is a member of A. F. & A. M. Lodge No. 453, and also of the Missionary Baptist Church. He has creditably filled several offices on the school board and local positions, and is a man of great popularity in his vicinity.