George T. Goodwin

George T. Goodwin (September 8, 1837 - December 25, 1912) was a farmer and senior deacon of the West Hartford Congregational Church. He was also a wholesale dealer in dairy supplies and kept up the business in spite of his advancing years. He was for years correspondent of "The Courant" in Elmwood.

Born September 8, 1837, the son of Thomas O'Hara Goodwin, a potter and farmer, and Mahala Mix, both of West Hartford, he married Susan F. Williams, the daughter of C. Davis and Florinda (Preston) Williams of Brookyln, Connecticut, on September 24, 1861.

Adulthood
In July 1869, Goodwin formed a partnership with Clinton E. Andrews to conduct a grocery business at 616 Main Street in Hartford, Connecticut. He conducted this business until the 1870's.

When the old schoolhouse formed at the corner of South Main Street and New Britain Avenue in June 1873, Goodwin was superintendent.

Close Call
In July 1893, at the age of 55, a peculiar accident occurred at the Berlin train station. Goodwin was sitting near the middle door on the west side of the waiting room and as the 8:20 AM train from Berlin passed, a part of a support to the air brake hose flew off at the moment, striking him on the back of the neck. Had the iron landed edgewise it would surely have made a cut; as it was, it only left a bad bruise and Goodwin recovered quickly.

That same year, his granddaughter, Susie W. Handall, was born.

Later years and death
In October 1899, after the First Church in West Hartford decided that a missionary should be maintained in the foreign field, Goodwin, a Deacon at the time, was appointed one of the solicitors for raising money, with liberty to choose assistants.

He was correspondent of the Courant in Elmwood in the late 1890's and early 1900's.

On September 25, 1911, Goodwin and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary of fifty years at their home at 1198 New Britain Avenue in Elmwood. Their daughter Mrs. Cyrus M. Blackman and their granddaughter, Susie W. Handall, were present.

At the beginning of 1912, at the age of 74, Goodwin began suffering from a gradual hardening of the arteries and he died at his home on December 25, 1912, of a brief and unexpected illness. Burial was at the old North Cemetery in West Hartford Center.