Goodin: The Man
When Thomas Elliot Goodin was born in 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes was President. Goodin would see sixteen presidents take office before his death in 1963, a few months before John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Goodin was from a family of railroaders. He was one of the fortunate people in that he found his calling early in life. Fifty-eight of his 85 years of life were spent on the railroad. He worked through World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. The railroad played a crucial role in wartime hauling both supplies and soldiers.
Goodin was proud of his family, a wife, three children, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Goodin and his wife, Glenna, were married for 62 years. His eldest son, Tom, Jr., retired from Erwin Utilities. His daughter, Ellene Sawyer, was a teacher for fifty years. His youngest son, John D., an attorney for more than fifty years, was a decorated World War II Veteran, receiving numerous medals for valor, heroic achievement, and wounds, including the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Bronze Star. After his father's death, John Goodin said he "was astounded to find that his father had kept his first fee as a lawyer in 1939."
Family Ties
T. E. faithfully wrote letters to his son, John from the time he was just a small boy, throughout his time at college in Virginia, and also during his time in the U. S. Army from 1941 to 1945. His letters were very informative as to what was going on at home, on the railroad, and with the family. He was always steering John away from getting too serious with any one girl. He wrote about the weather, gardening, dogs, hog-killings, hunting, work and accidents on the railroad (see The Clinchfield), politics, cars, the stock market, Sunday School and church, family friends, births and deaths, community news and events, building character and courage, and life lessons. He often gave John advice about how to budget his money, take care of his health, to study hard, and make something of himself. He expresses to John over and over the importance of education, and that he wants him to become a lawyer and do mental labor and not manual labor, telling him that no one can legislate you out of knowledge. He also reminds John of the Goodin ambition to go ahead and work, ill or well, and to develop some of your Dad's grit as it is easier to make it with brains than brawn. Don't let anyone talk you into anything. Stand by your convictions.
President Roosevelt is mentioned in some of Goodin's letters, as time and again he and John discussed politics. In a letter dated November 4, 1937 T. E. writes: It looks like wall street is going to bring on a panic if they can down Rosevelt [sic] and his policys [sic]. On November 30, 1937, T. E. writes to John that the money men are trying to stop Rosevelt [sic] new deal.
Goodin often sent John railroad passes, especially on holidays, so he could come home for Christmas saying Santa only wants a nice big boy at home.
Other topics that T. E. frequently writes about are harvesting, preserving, and eating foods: Saturday morning working hard - milk churned, gathered up the punkins and put them under fod[d]er shocks, dug a row of potatoes - having chicken pie and sweet potatoes for dinner, wish you were here to help eat it, all our apples are gone now, we killed the pigs last Saturday and I had to work them up, must go to milk for it is 7:30, getting Mr. Nelson to turn the beans under on Friday, having beans and onions, another duck for supper, bought a 150 lb hog at 10 cts a pound and made some sausage, the women folk give a bean supper tonight at the fishery school house, gathering popcorn and spread my potatoes out to sun, eat corn bread and onions and fat meat, cold and frosty this Sunday morning, got all the fires going, worked hard hoeing the garden, onions and tomatoes set out.
Appalachian sayings: I may have flue [sic] because my nose is running like a corn mill. Don't get too many irons in the fire for you will get some of them burned.
T. E. always tells John in his letters how much he is missed. In one letter in 1937, he tells John when we come in in the car, this dog looks all around for you.
Appalachian remedies: John started experiencing pain in his side. T. E. advised him to get some olive oil and rub your side with it and take a dose three times a day and that will remove that pain, or I can give you Castor oil when you get home. John you get a head of lettus [sic] and eat and drink mineral oil and you will come out of that pain. When T. E. thought he had the flu, he told John castor oil and soda was best for that.
T. E. often jokes about John's mother telling him "she's not feeling well, think I'll put her in the shop and have her built over like a mike Engine." Both T. E. and Glenna had a good sense of humor writing hilariously funny letters. In the John Goodin Papers, letters from Glenna to John portray her as a free spirit with a wicked verbal wit often referring to herself as the Witch of Endor. She is a hilariously funny homemaker and part-time dabbler in real estate, telling humorous stories to John about shocking the Women's Auxiliary with outlandish hats and dangly earrings. T. E. relates various antics about Glenna taking the car and having a flat tire or an accident, or driving the clean car through mud. He tells John she "took a notion to go to Limestone and cut the tube all to pieces! She is mad at me because I told her not to run around in the car by herself." He often jokes that Glenna has used all the paper so he will have to write on whatever he can find. In a letter from 1937 he tells John, "Your mother ate a whole baked chicken for dinner you should have seen that pile of bones. Then she said she didn't eat much!" When John learns how to use a typewriter, T. E. teases him and says, "I am glad you are using a type writer as I can read your letter now without getting your mother to help me."
Letter from T. E. to John
Friday Nite, Oct 2 - 36
I havent heard from you this week guess you are hard at work getting up with par books and keeping up with your lessons. go to it and study hard if it takes that to make the grade we want you to apply your self and come thru in 3 years that is a long time but think what I have done since I was 22 years old you can do better for have a better chance. There are some hounds running a fox over in the Mtns you should heare [sic] them makes me think of the night we hunted to gather. I dream[ed] last night of Eating at a hotel with you and your mother and was so nice to us that some gentelman [sic] as[ked] me who was the young man that was so clever to us. then I woke up - Mr McIntyre said he had a note from his at the U.T. and he had took up law said it was some hard work for him - saw passy to night - he went out on 97 North said he coudnt get a load of apple down here - his best apples going at $2.00 a bushel at the orchard 1.00 for the culls - said he wanted to send you some
Community and Civic Ties
John Goodin wrote that T. E. "attended and supported Fishery Union Church all of his later years." In a letter to John in 1937, T. E. writes: I prayed to God to leave me here to help you get started in life successfully and educate you so you would not have to struggle all your life. So I am here working and trying to do what I asked God to let me stay here for. So you see why I believe in God & prayer. You ask him to help you and strengthen you and give you wisdom to make your grade, and you will pull through all right. But you have to do your part too. I've been thru it all and had all kinds of experance [sic] but never lost faith in God.
The Goodins were socially active, and community-oriented, and were mentioned over seventy times in the Society, Personal Mention, and Club News sections of newspapers between 1926 and 1956, including: The Johnson City Staff-News, The Johnson City Chronicle, and The Erwin Record.
Announcements included trips and visits of various family members, including Ellene and John when they were visiting from school, and Tom, Jr. from Clinchco, Virginia. Articles stated on different occasions that family members "motored" to various places including Asheville, Greeneville, Limestone, and Lexington, VA. There were several mentions of entertaining house guests from Spartanburg and Darlington, South Carolina, Clinchco, Virginia, Maynardsville, Massachusetts, Asheville, North Carolina, and Kingsport and Limestone, Tennessee, at their home on Southwestern Avenue in Johnson City, and later in the "suburban" area of Unicoi, i.e. Erwin.
On March 27, 1925 the Johnson City-Staff News reported that Mrs. T. E. Goodin and son, Mr. John Goodin, are spending the week-end in Spartanburg, S.C.
1925 The Johnson City Chronicle combined with The Johnson City Staff-News reported: Tom Goodin returns from a vacation trip to Greeneville and Morristown.
1925 Miss Ellene Goodin attending the Marjorie Webster School in Washington, D. C.
On August 16, 1926, the Johnson City-Staff News reported that Mr. T. E. Goodin and son Mr. John Goodin have returned from Philadelphia where they attended the Sequi-Centennial. [World's Fair Exposition]
1926 Tom Goodin, Jr. visiting from Clinchco, Virginia.
1926 Miss Ellene Goodin attending Piedmont College for the summer.
On that same day: Mrs. T. E. Goodin and Miss Ellene Goodin spent last week in Asheville where they attended the Grand Opera.
September 2, 1927 the Johnson City Staff-News reported that Miss Ellene Goodin graduated from the American College of Physical Education at Chicago, and will teach in the city schools.
November 25, 1927 the Johnson City Staff-News reported Miss Ellen Goodin entertained informally with a dinner party on Thursday evening. Then on Friday evening, Miss Goodin invited the younger society set to a dinner dance at her home on Southwest Avenue.
On May 23, 1929 the Johnson City Staff-News reported the engagement of Miss Ellene Cordelia Goodin and Mr. Reginald Phillip Sawyer. Then on May 29, they quietly solemnized their vows at the home of the bride's parents using the impressive ring ceremony.
April 1, 1934, Mesdames T. E. Goodin, Sr., Joe Goodin and children and John Goodin will spend Sunday with Mrs. Hall, mother of Mrs. T. E. Goodin at Limestone.
1934 The Erwin Record reported extensively about a neighborhood party honoring visitors at the lovely home of Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Goodin, Sr. near the Fishery. Gorgeous gift bouquets of mammoth dahlias and other fall flowers were lavishly used throughout the lower floor of the Goodin home, adding much to its already attractive appearance. Delightful music was furnished during the evening, while many games and contests proved unusually entertaining, and created much fun among the guests. Late in the evening delicious ice cream, cake and ginger ale were served. Thirty-five guests enjoyed the happy occasion.
1938 The Erwin Record reported that Johnny Goodin of Washington and Lee, spent last week here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Goodin, Sr.
May 19, 1938 The Erwin Record reported that Mrs. T. E. Goodin entertained Circle One of Centenary Church, with a delightful social hour following.
1941-1945 Several articles were written about John D. Goodin, where he was stationed stateside, and later where he was stationed in Europe. For more information please visit: https://archivesofappalachia.omeka.net/exhibits/show/soldiersletters.
1944 The Erwin Record reported the re-election of officers for the Woman's Club of which Mrs. T. E. Goodin was a member.
1950 The Erwin Record reported that John D. Goodin was named national commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Goodin was the first World War II veteran to be chosen to the office.
1956 The Erwin Record reported: Tom Goodin, Jr., of Erwin Utilities, in race for magistrate at large, 3rd district. August 2, 1956 reported he came in third.
T. E. Goodin's grandchildren were also mentioned in the papers for birthday parties, music recitals, and marriages. Of mention during these years were Betty, Jean and Tom, the children of Tom, Jr., and Glenna, the daughter of Ellene.
Membership Cards
Fifty Year Cap
T. E. Goodin first entered Masonry in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He obtained the 32nd degree in Masonry in Memphis in 1912.
On September 9, 1962, Goodin received a letter from the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry informing him that he was eligible for his Fifty-Year Cap.
Goodin was also an active Shriner and regularly contributed to the Shriners Crippled Children Fund. He belonged to the Spartanburg, Johnson City, Erwin, and Unicoi Lodge.
On September 21, 1962, Goodin was presented the Fifty-Year Cap, by his son, John D. Goodin, who was Vice-President of the Washington County Scottish Rites Club, and President, William B. Nachman.
Personal Papers
The Stock Market Crash
In the Clinchfield Hall of Fame Presentation for Thomas E. Goodin, Sr., John Goodin states that "by the late twenties he had accumulated a small fortune, building a mansion at 1119 Southwest Avenue in Johnson City (pictured on the left), which he sold to S. R. Jennings, a business associate. The stock market crash of 1929 wiped him. At 53 years old, moving to Erwin, he started over."
Goodin apparently sought reassurance from his employer that his job status would not be affected by the state of his finances. L. L. McIntyre, Superintendent of the Clinchfield Railroad, assured him that Mr. Phetteplace, General Manager, stated that his position was secure.
Another letter from the Clinchfield dated January 4, 1932, thanked all employees for their "loyalty and cooperation through this most difficult year we have ever passed through."
Letters of Appreciation
There are numerous letters in the John Goodin Papers from the Clinchfield Railroad, appreciative passengers, and fellow workers expressing sincere appreciation and gratitude for the kindness and professionalism, as well as assistance in dire circumstances, of T. E. Goodin as Conductor.
"I Am A Railroad Man"
