James William Goodwin was only an infant when his father, Henson, died about 1852. In 1854 his mother, Nancy Jane, also died. His maternal grandparents, John and Sarah Patton Knight, were made his guardians. They moved from Taylor County to Ritchie County, Virginia/West Virginia by the 1860 Census.
One day about 1880 James William was riding his horse in neighboring Wood County and met a lovely young lady riding the other way. He spoke not a word, but stopped at the first house and inquired about the name of this young lady. He was told her name was Lois Ann Chancellor to which he replied,"She shall be my wife." (Story told by James William Goodwin to his daughter, Evadna,who retold it to me.)
Aunt Evadna also said that although her father did not have much education, he worked very hard and bought property at tax sales. He eventually owned a store, a sawmill, oil leases, and other property. When his children married, he gave each of them a home. Wood County records confirm this account.
Lois Ann Chancellor Goodwin lost her mother, Evaline Bailey Chancellor, when she was only two years old. Her father remarried and had a large family by his second wife.
Aunt Evadna remembers her father taking her mother, Grandfather Chancellor, and herself to the Elks Club. She and her mother would have lemonade, Grandfather Chancellor a hot toddy, and her Dad a beer.
Two stories were told to me by my Grandmother Effie Goodwin Custer about her mother which Aunt Evadna confirmed. It seems for whatever reason Lois Ann Chancellor had to carry rocks from one place to another as a punishment. There was also a story that one Christmas she only received a lump of coal. Perhaps this was an effort to instill discipline. Aunt Evadna said her mother was a true lady in the best sense of the word. Camden Chancellor who is a descendant of the second marriage said that "Lossie" (her nickname) was beloved by the children of Benjamin's second family.
