John A. Goodwin

John Abbot Goodwin
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1860–1861
Preceded by Charles Hale
Succeeded by Alexander H. Bullock
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1859–1861
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1859–1861
Personal details
Born May 21, 1824
Sterling, Massachusetts
Died September 24, 1884
Spouse(s) Martha Fisher[1]
Children William Bradford Goodwin[2]
Profession Educator, journalist[2]

John Abbot Goodwin was a U.S. educator,[2] journalist and politician who served as a member, and from 1860 to 1861, as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[1]

Family life

Goodwin was the brother of American writer Jane G. Austin.[3] Goodwin married Martha Fisher of Sudbury, Massachusetts,[1] they had a son, William Bradford Goodwin.[2]

Teaching career

Goodwin was a teacher for many years.[2] Goodwin was for a time the superintendent of schools of Lawrence, Massachusetts.[2]

Journalist career

Goodwin was involved in the management of the Lawrence Courier.[2] In 1854 Goodwin moved to Lowell to take over the running of the Lowell Courier.[2] After working for a year[2] at the Courier[2] Goodwin became the editor[2][1] of the Lowell Daily Citizen and News.[4] Goodwin spent two tears as editor of the Daily Citizen and News.[2]

Public service career

Goodwin was a member of the Lowell Board of Aldermen for two years, and spent ten consecutive years as a member of the Lowell School Committee.[2] Goodwin was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1857 and 1859 to 1861, serving as House Speaker for his last two years.[2]

Lowell Postmaster

On April 12, 1861 Goodwin received an appointment from President Lincoln to the position of postmaster of Lowell, a position that he held for thirteen years.[2]

Death and burial

Goodwin died on September 24, 1884, he was buried in the cemetery in south Sudbury, Massachusetts[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hudson, Alfred Sereno (1889). The History of Sudbury, Massachusetts 1639 1889. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Town of Sudbury. p. 442.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Old Residents' Historical Association (January 1904). Contributions of the Old Residents' Historical Association, Lowell, Mass: Organized December 21, 1868, Volume VI. Lowell, Massachusetts: Old Residents' Historical Association of Lowell. p. 204.
  3. 1 2 Old Residents' Historical Association (January 1904). Contributions of the Old Residents' Historical Association, Lowell, Mass: Organized December 21, 1868, Volume VI. Lowell, Massachusetts: Old Residents' Historical Association of Lowell. p. 205.
  4. Old Residents' Historical Association (January 1904). Contributions of the Old Residents' Historical Association, Lowell, Mass: Organized December 21, 1868, Volume VI. Lowell, Massachusetts: Old Residents' Historical Association of Lowell. p. 332.
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Preceded by
Charles Hale
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
1860 1861
Succeeded by
Alexander H. Bullock


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, March 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.