Goodwin came West and engaged in selling woolen goods to the trade; in the same year the factory [in the East] was entirely destroyed by fire.

The evidence

• “Y., where he accepted a situation as clerk in a dry goods and grocery house, as a test of the business. In the fall of 1838, he came West and engaged in selling woolen goods to the trade, and in May, 1840, he returned to Waterville and took full charge of Bacon & Goodwin's woolen-mills, of which he and his brother controlled and owned a one-fourth interest ; in 1842, he bought out his brother's interest; in 1838, the factory was entirely destroyed by fire, and was rebuilt in 1839; in 1840, wh'cn Mr. Goodwin assumed full charge of the new mill, it was turning out 210 yards per day of sheep's gray cloth, which he, by his energy, increased to from 430 to 470 yards per day ; the mill was a o-rand success and financially prosperous.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/18-bios-beloit.md, PDF p. 745 / book p. 749

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources