Truman Goodwater, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and eighty acres on section 7, Pleasant Township, was born in Huron County, Vermont, on the 2d of June, 1833, ,and is a son of Benjamin and Mary Louise (Caurier) Goodwater, the former a native of Paris, France, and the latter of. Quebec, Canada. Both the father and mother passed away in Winnashiek County, Iowa, whither they had removed. In their family were fifteen children, but only three are now living, namely: Truman, of this review; Mary, who became the wife of Barnhardt Spinner and lives in Iowa; and Andrew, who makes his home in Nebraska.

Truman Goodwater acquired his education in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-two years. He then took up a homestead claim in Minnesota, on which he lived for two years, and while there he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Jane Murphy, a native of New York. They became the parents of two children: George Edward, now a resident of Minnesota; and Benjamin, who has passed away. The wife and mother died in 1864 and her death was deeply deplored by many friends as well as her immediate family.

As before stated Mr. Goodwater remained in Minnesota but two years and then sold his homestead and removed to Winneshiek County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres and erected thereon a log house of one room. In 1864, his patriotism being aroused by the continued attempt of the South to overthrow the Union, he joined Company F, Forty-Sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving for one hundred days. After being mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, he returned to Winneshiek County, where he remained until 1872, when he came to Pottawattamie County and purchased sixty acres of land where he now lives, only ten acres of which had been broken. He erected a little shanty, twelve by sixteen feet, in which he lived for seven years, and then built his present comfortable residence in the same yard. He has added to his original tract until he is now the owner of one hundred and eighty acres on section 7, Pleasant Township, on which he has pIaced all modern improvements and accessories. His buildings are all in an excellent state of repair and the success which has come to him in his farming operations is entirely the result of his own labors and capable business management.

After his return from the war, Mr. Goodwater was married a second time, in Winneshiek County, to Miss Gertrude Friedrich, who was born in Germany, September 11, 1847, a daughter of Joseph and Anna Mary (Theobalt) Friedrich. She accompanied her parents on their removal to America in 1853, the family home being established in Freeport, Illinois, where the father engaged in teaching school. In 1857 he removed to Jackson County, Iowa, where he remained for four years, and then went to Winneshiek County. He came to Pottawattamie County in the year 1872, and here he and his wife passed away, leaving four children to mourn their loss, while two others had previously died.

Mr. and Mrs. Goodwater have become the parents of eight children, as follows: Charles W., who lives in Washington; Eugene, also a resident of that state; Anna Matilda, who was a school teacher and is now the wife of Manuel Simas, of Spokane Falls, Washington; Amelia, who was also engaged in school teaching and married William Zimmerman, now making her home in this state; Eva Lavona, deceased; Frances Josephine, at home, who is a graduate of the Shelby High School and taught for three years in Pottawattamie County and for two years in Washington; Gertrude Viola, the wife of Frank J. Kessler, of Pottawattamie County; and Frederick B., who is at home and is also a graduate of the Shelby high school.

Mr. Goodwater is a member of Dick Yates post, No. 364, G. A. R., of Shelby. He gives his political support to the Republican Party and has served as school director and as supervisor. Both he and his wife were reared in the Catholic faith but their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For more than a third of a century Mr. Goodwater has successfully carried on agricultural pursuits in Pottawattamie County and is widely recognized as one of the county's enterprising and representative citizens and business men. The family are well known in the community and the hospitality of their pleasant home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.