Biography of Elmer Goodwin, pages 870/871/872.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



Elmer Goodwin



	There can be no impropriety in scanning the acts of any man as 
they affect his public, personal and business relations.  So in this 
biographical work will be found mention of worthy citizens of all 
vocations, and at this juncture we offer a resume of the career of one 
of the substantial and highly esteemed representatives of the 
agricultural interests of Grant township, DeKalb county, where he has 
not only attained a high degree of success in his chosen field of labor 
and enterprise, but also established and imperishable reputation for 
uprightness in all the relations of life.

	Elmer Goodwin, who owns a fine farm of one hundred and forty-four 
acres at the edge of Waterloo, was born in this town on September 22, 
1858, and is a son of David and Sarah (Wiltrout) Goodwin.  David 
Goodwin, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, on November 5, 1826, was the 
son of David and Catherine (Zimmerman) Goodwin, natives of 
Pennsylvania, who in 1822 moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and later to 
Ashland county, that state, where the father’s death occurred.  David 
Goodwin was reared in Ashland county, Ohio, and was one of nine 
children, four boys and five girls, born to their parents, of whom only 
two are now living, Daniel and Mrs. Mary Stroh.  On May 25, 1853, David 
Goodwin married Sarah Wiltrout, who was born in Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, on February 12, 1837, the daughter of Jacob Wiltrout. Six 
months after his marriage David Goodwin came to DeKalb county, Indiana 
and in the fall of 1855 he moved upon the farm near Waterloo, where he 
resided for forty-four years. He was a man of considerable enterprise 
and energy, his accumulations being the result, of hard labor and rigid 
economy.  He and his thrifty wife cleared and improved the farm, which, 
when they took possession, was in its primitive wildness.  In the early 
days of their residence here Mr. Goodwin was converted and became one 
of the first members of the Waterloo class of the United Brethren 
church, and when that society built a new church edifice he was one of 
the most liberal donors to the building fund.  His death occurred at 
Waterloo on March 9, 1899, at the age of seventy-two years.  

	Elmer Goodwin was reared on his father’s farm at Waterloo, where 
he has spent his entire life, and to the cultivation of which farm he 
has devoted his attention with very gratifying success, being now 
numbered among the successful and substantial citizens of his 
community.

	In 1883 Elmer Goodwin was married to Almeda McEntarfer, who was 
born at Waterloo, Indiana, and is a daughter of David and Mary 
(Wildersin) McEntarfer.  David McEntarfer was born near Waterloo and 
was a son of Jacob and Drusilla (Saynor) McEntarfer, who came from  
Stark county, Ohio, to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1839, locating in 
Smithfield township when there were only four or five families in the 
township.  The country had been but little improved and wild animals 
and Indians were numerous.  Mr. McEntarfer often visited the Indians 
and attended their dances.  There on the home farm David McEntarfer was 
reared to manhood and married Mary Wildersin, who was the daughter of 
Martin and Barbara (Cronk) Wildersin. He secured a good education in 
the schools and early in life became a teacher, his death occurring a 
the early age of twenty-one years, leaving a wife and two children, 
Emma and Almeda. His widow afterward became the wife of Solomon Link 
and lived in Smithfield township near Waterloo until her death, which 
occurred on October 8, 1903. By her second marriage she bore three 
children, Mrs. Maude Daniels, Mrs. Pearl Barnes and Benjamin.  To Elmer 
Goodwin and wife has been born a daughter, Grace, who is now the wife 
of John Thomas, of Waterloo, and they have a daughter, Ruth.  Mr. 
Thomas is the son of Jonathan and Phoebe (Everhart) Thomas, and he was 
born at Edon, Ohio.  At the time of his marriage Mr. Goodwin built a 
very attractive and commodious residence where he now resides, and he 
gave his attention to the operation of this fine farm, which is 
numbered among the best pieces of agricultural land in this locality.  
Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in the workings 
of which order he takes a deep interest, and according to those who 
know him best he is a good citizen in the broadest sense of the phrase, 
giving his support to those enterprises which promise to advance the 
best interest of the community materially, morally and educationally. 
His personal relations with his fellow men have ever been mutually 
agreeable and he is highly regarded by all, being easily approached, 
obliging and straightforward in all the relations of life.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com