Elijah Goodwin was a minister of the Disciples of Christ, a pioneer preacher in Indiana and Illinois, editor. He took part in the establishment of North Western Christian University, now Butler University, Indianapolis.
Background
Elijah Goodwin was born on January 16, 1807, in Champaign County, Ohio. He was the son of Aaron Goodwin by his second wife, Mary Chapman.
His parents soon migrated to the “American Bottom, ” Illinois Territory, about twelve miles east of St. Louis, but after three years of fever and ague, they decided to return to Ohio.
On the journey back, however, they were attracted by prospects in Indiana Territory and finally settled near what is now Washington, Daviess County.
Education
In Washington, Elijah grew up under primitive surroundings, working on the farm, getting a little schooling, and eagerly reading whatever books he could obtain, which happened to be chiefly religious.
Career
At the age of seventeen, Goodwin began to preach and at once impressed the older ministers with his fervor and ability.
In the fall of 1825, the Indiana Christian Conference licensed him. Cutting loose from all worldly affairs and receiving little remuneration except the pleasure of seeing sinners converted, he carried on evangelistic work from house to house and from county to county.
In 1827, the Indiana and Wabash Conferences appointed him to travel among their churches, and in this office, he was accustomed to cover a circuit of 600 miles every eight weeks. Probably no one did more to establish “Christian” churches in southwestern Indiana and in some of the neighboring counties in Illinois than did he.
After a preaching tour through five counties of Tennessee, he established his home on his father-in-law’s farm in Gibson County, Indiana. He became pastor of the church at Union, carried on evangelistic work, taught school, ran a store, and was a tax collector. During this period, he became a Campbellite.
From 1840 to 1847, he devoted himself wholly to religious work, making preaching tours in Kentucky as well as in Indiana and Illinois.
In 1847, having purchased a half interest in the Christian Record, a monthly periodical, he moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where he edited and published this magazine jointly with Rev. J. M. Mathes.
The following year, he became connected with the movement which resulted in the establishment of North Western Christian University, now Butler University, Indianapolis, and he severed his connection with the Record.
In January 1849, he put forward a plan for a state missionary society, and in the fall of that year, the Indiana Christian Home Missionary Society was formed.
From 1849 to 1851, he was pastor at Madison, Indiana, and from 1851 to 1854 of the churches at Bloomington and Clear Creek. During the next two years, as agent for North Western Christian University, opened in 1855, he canvassed the state to secure needed funds.
From 1856 to 1859, he was a pastor in Indianapolis. In the latter year he became sole proprietor of the Christian Record, then published in that city, and edited it until it was merged with the Christian Standard in 1866.
His activities in behalf of the University occupied much of his time until 1871 when he took charge of a mission church in Philadelphia.
A brief pastorate (1872 - 74) in Newport, Kentucky, followed. The next two years he was in Indianapolis, where he assisted his wife in editing her paper.
At Oskaloosa, Iowa, to which place he moved in 1877, his health failed, and he died near Cleveland, Ohio, whither he had gone in hope of receiving benefit from mineral springs there.
A volume of sermons, The Family Companion: or a Book of Sermons on Various Subjects both Doctrinal and Practical, was published by him in 1856.
Achievements
Elijah Goodwin has been listed as a noteworthy clergyman by Marquis Who's Who.
Religion
Goodwin's mother was a “shouting Methodist, ” who believed it a sin to quench the spirit, and Elijah imbibed the idea that there were no truly religious people in the world but Methodists.
When, however, certain preachers of the “Christian” persuasion came to the neighborhood, he was attracted by their doctrines and joined a church of their order about four miles from his home.
Connections
On August 5, 1828, Goodwin married Jane Moore Davis. On February 16, 1863, his wife died, and on June 19, 1864, he married Marcia M. Bassett, editor of the Christian Monitor.
