My Genealogy Hound

Walter P. Goodwin, a prominent young attorney of the firm of Langford & Goodwin, was born in this county in 1861, and was the seventh of nine children, all sons, born to Robert and Nancy T. (Foster) Goodwin, natives, respectively, of Georgia and Alabama. Robert Goodwin was born on November 27, 1812, but when a small boy removed with his parents to Bibb County, Ala., where he continued to reside until January, 1840, when he removed to Union County, Ark. His father was a farmer and one of the pioneers of Alabama, in which State Robert became thoroughly acquainted with the duties of the farm. Among the bold and venturesome pioneers who came as the forerunners of the light and refinement that were soon to follow from the East, Robert Goodwin was ever a leading spirit. Full of nerve and pluck, dashing in enterprise, and active in business pursuits, he was very successful, and amassed a large fortune. His residence, erected on the Camden road five miles north of El Dorado, is one of the, largest and finest country homes in Union County. Robert Goodwin was a man of strong intellect and large heart, and was constantly doing acts of kindness and charity. He stood high in the esteem of the neighborhood, and was exceedingly popular with the people of the county, the same being evidenced by his being elected to represent the people of Union County in the following instances: In 1860 he was a member of the Secession Convention held at Little Rock, and in 1874, he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Two years later he was a delegate from Arkansas to the National Democratic Convention which met at St. Louis, and nominated Tilden and Hendricks. When he settled in Arkansas he homesteaded a claim, and purchased seven other tracts on the Camden and El Dorado road, five miles north of the latter place. This he at once began to improve, and in a few years he erected a commodious and tasty residence, which house is still occupied by his widow, and shows evidence of the taste and care that surrounded it in former days. At the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Goodwin was rich, but that strife exhausted most of his means and left him at its close, in reduced circumstances. His commercial interests and farming operations were very successful, and at his death he left about 18,000 acres of land and other property to his heirs, and died a rich man, all accumulated by his own exertions. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Walter P. Goodwin was born on his father’s farm five miles north of El Dorado, and this fine old farm is still a conspicuous sight along the road. Walter attended the common schools of Union County, and in 1879 entered the sub freshman class of the State University at Fayetteville, Ark., and took a full course, graduating in 1884. He soon after engaged in the publication of the Public Sentiment, at El Dorado with John Langford, continued at this for some time, and during this time was admitted to the law at New London, Union County, in the fall term of 1887. After spending some time in travel, he formed a partnership with Judge Langford at El Dorado. He is active in politics, votes with the Democratic party, and is secretary of the Central Club of the Young Men’s Democratic Club.