Week 27: Extended Family (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

The theme for Week 27 is "Extended Family." We often focus on those people from whom we descend. But what about their siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins? They played a role in our ancestors' lives, just like those people play a role in our own lives. This is a good week to explore the lives of these other people in the family tree. Click here to check out all the themes for 2022. 

My father once asked if I found the relative who threw his wife down a well. This was one story I decided to promptly to look into.

Thomas E Goodwin, my 1st cousin 3x removed (my paternal grandmother’s side) had thrown his wife, Mary Biel down a well on the night of May 29, 1900. Thomas was born Dec 18, 1957 in Wisconsin the son of Edward Goodwin and Mary Delaney. Thomas’s grandfather Thomas Goodwin was my 3rd great grandfather. 

Thomas E Goodwin was a saloon keeper and came home intoxicated and she helped him to bed. About a half an hour later came to her room where she lay asleep and told her that a horse was sick in the barn and that he wished her to hold the lantern while he attended to the animal. However, when they were near the old well, he grabbed her and after a struggle, threw her into it. Mrs Mary Goodwin screams brought help and she was removed from the well by her brother, Lewis Biel and several others. 

Mary Goodwin was granted a divorce on Nov 21, 1900.

During the trial, it was mentioned that Mr Goodwin had made an attempt to commit his wife to an insane asylum a few weeks previous to the alleged attempt to murder her. Also, Mr Goodwin tried to show that his wife, if not insane, was in a highly disturbed and hysterical mental condition and had either wandered to the region of the well and fallen in or had attempted suicide. The trial shown that the couple had domestic troubles. 

In Dec 1901 Thomas Goodwin was sentenced to five years in Waupun State Penitentiary. The judge that sentenced him in the attempted murder trial is the same judge, Judge Dick that granted the Divorce request by Mary Goodwin back in Nov 1900.

Thomas Goodwin took the appeal to the Supreme court and in the meantime was released on bail. In Oct 1902, he was found guilty a second time, this time the case was held in Janesville Wisconsin. This time he was sentenced to ten years.

However, in Dec 1907, Governor Davidson paroled him on the recommendation of the state board of control, having served only five years of his sentence. A new law in placed required that before a prisoner is paroled, one half of the full term must be served and employment for at least one year must be guaranteed and a monthly report made on the conduct and condition of the paroled prisoner. 

Thomas and Mary had married on May 29, 1890 had five children born between 1891-1899. It was on their 10th wedding anniversary that Thomas threw Mary down the well. Thomas was previously married to a Catherine McMahon on Oct 26, 1881 and they had two children. Catherine died Nov 1, 1885.

When I looked up more information on Catherine, who might also be my 1st cousin 3x removed on my paternal grandfather’s side, I found that her death was questionable. 

She was found dead in bed Sunday Morning, Nov 1, 1885. Marks of violence were plainly visible on the neck, and her death is supposed to have been caused by strangulation. An inquest was held and it was determined that her death was from natural causes. 

I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but I really suspect Thomas had something to do with Catherine’s death. 

Mary died on July 24th 1921 and Thomas died Dec 26, 1927. Thomas and his first wife are buried together in Lost Lake, Dodge County, Wisconsin while Mary is buried in Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin.

You never know what you might find out about your extended family.  Remember to have fun and to Just do Genealogy!