(Note: This information was contributed by a fellow researcher. Genealogy Trails has NOT verified ANY of this information. The researcher is responsible for verifying any information they might find online or elsewhere.)
Will was born about 1815/1819 in Missouri. He died 5 Jan 1889 in Guilford Twp., Jo Daviess Co., Illinois.
The census for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 find him a resident of Guilford Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, He was a farmer and owned different sections of property in the Guilford Township area.
William E Goodwin and Messina had the following children:
*Mary Margaret Goodwin* - born about 1842 in Missouri. She died before 1860.
*Sarah J. Goodwin* - born about 1844 in Illinois.
*Josiah J Goodwin* - born Jan 1848 in Illinois.
*Melinda A Goodwin* - born 1846/1847 in IL, married Henry T Kilmer 28 Dec 1872 in Jo Daviess Co., IL.
*Lucinda Goodwin* - born 1847/1849 in Guilford, Jo Daviess Co., Illinois.
*Jacob Goodwin* - born Sep 1850 in Missouri. He died before 1860 in Illinois.
*Martha Goodwin* - born 1850 in Illinois.
*Adeline Goodwin* - born 1852 in Guilford, IL. Married Franklin A Harden 14 Jun 1871 in Jo Daviess Co., IL
*Diena Goodwin* - born 5 Oct 1854 in Guilford Twp., Jo Daviess Co., IL. Died 21 Jun 1926 in Fremont,
Dodge Co., NE and was buried in Ridge Cemetery there. Diena married John
Jasper Yenney on 1 Dec 1874
in Pulaski, Iowa Co., WI. The 1920 census lists Diena as divorced.
*William S. Goodwin* was born 1858/1859 in Illinois.
*Mary Emeline Goodwin* - "Emma" was born Apr 1869 in IL. She died 19 Jun 1919 in Savanna, Carroll Co,
Illinois. Emma married Elmer E. Tipp, son of Henry Tipp and Rebecca, on 16 Jun 1887 in Galena
*Elisabeth Goodwin*.
During the Civil War William E. volunteered with the 96th Inf, Company F, Jo Daviess County Volunteers as a Private. He enlisted 13 August 1862 and was discharged 15 Sep 1863 in Chicago, disabled.
He was 5' 10" light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. He filed a claim for disability that was never approved.
After several dispositions it was determined that he had shot himself in the foot and the disability was ruled to be self-inflicted. Widows Pension Information is at the National Archives [NARA] #WC419.506 as his widow also filed, and she was denied as well.
Some of the major battles he participated in during his enlistmant were:
Fought on 22 September 1862 at Chattanooga, TN.
Fought on 14 April 1863 at Franklin, TN.
Fought on 14 July 1863.
His obituary appeared in the Galena Weekly Gazette on 24 Jan 1889:
"William E. Goodwin died at his home in Guilford, of lung trouble, aged 70 years. He leaves a wife and 8 children; 7 daughters and 1 son; to mourn his loss. 'His race is run, his home is reached, All earthly struggles gone. A while we weep and linger here, Then follow to the tomb. "A Friend"."
William E Goodwin married *Messina [nee Gordon] Johnson* on 27 Oct 1842 in Lincoln Co., Missouri. She was born
1814/1820 in Missouri. She died after Jun 1905.
Missina Goodwin filed for a widow’s pension in Iowa page: 2495 on 11 APR 1890. A Special Examiner interviewed her
and several other witnesses in June 1892. Her claim was denied. It was determined that she was never ‘legally’
married to William Goodwin since she was never able to prove her divorce from her first husband; William Johnson.
Another request for a pension was filed by a congressman on her behalf in Feb 1892, but no record has been found
of what became of that request.
For further information on this line, contact: Lori Gilbert at hazelbuck@aol.com