By Mary A. Sego
Title: Fremont Goodwine collection, 1883-1956
Primary Creator: Goodwine, Fremont (1857-1956)
Extent: 1.0 Folders. More info below.
Subjects: Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae
Forms of Material: Clippings (Information artifacts)
Languages: English
The following came from Fremont Goodwine's obituary written August 25, 1956. The publication information is unknown.
On August 25, 1956, a part of Purdue's past died. Fremont Goodwine, Class of 1878, Purdue's oldest living alumnus, passed away at the age of ninety-nine in St. Joseph, Louisiana.
He was one of the thirteen members of the original freshman class which entered Purdue in 1874. Because of his close friendship with John Purdue, founder of the University, young Fremont chose Purdue as the college he would attend. While Fremont was being examined for entrance to the University, John Purdue laid his hand on the young man's shoulder and said. "This is one of my constituents." Later, on the night preceeding Purdue's burial, Fremont was one of his bodyguards at the casket.
Born in West Lafayette, he lived in Indiana for more than fifty years. As an employee of the public school system, he spent his first six years in the academic profession as a teacher, and the next eight years as a principal and, finally, as a county superintendent of education.
As an active Republican, he voted the straight Republican ticket since 1880. He was named for John C. Fremont, the Republican candidate for President in 1856. In fact, Fremont enjoyed politics so much that he actively participated in it. Elected to the Indiana State Senate in 1897, he held the position for twelve years, acting as President pro tem for one session. For four sessions he served as chairman of the finance and budget committees which held a large responsibility for the state's appropriations. In 1908 he was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for Lt. Governor of Indiana.
In 1909 the Goodwine family pulled up its roots from Indiana and moved to Natchez, Mississippi. The following year they again migrated--this time to a cotton plantation outside St. Joseph, Louisiana. While in St. Joseph, Goodwine served as a postmaster for a while.
Besides being the oldest living Purdue Alumnus, Mr. Goodwine had held other similar honors. He was the Oldest Mason in Louisiana, and the second oldest member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He kept in touch with the Alumni Association religiously.
Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Alternate Extent Statement: 1 folder
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation: MSA 124, Fremont Goodwine collection, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries
Photocopied photograph of Fremont Goodwine, 1883.
Purdue Annual Register, College of General Science, entry for Juniors, Fremont Goodwine, 1877.
Autobiographical Sheet, August, 1951.
"Freemont Goodwine, Now Ninety-Two Remembers John Purdue's Funeral," no publication information available.
"Oldest Alumnus Dies," no publication information available.
"Tensas' Oldest Known Citizen Succumbs At 90," no publication information available.
"The "Solidest" Republican," no publication information available.
Photocopy of guest ticket from Republican National Convention, 1892 [Fremont's first convention as an Indiana delegate]
Ticket, National Republican Convention, Chicago, 1944 [last of Goodwine's fourteen as an alternative of the Louisiana delegation, age 88]
"Candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Hon. Fremont Goodwine," no publication information available, circa 1908
"A Great Record," no publication information available, circa 1908 [endorsement article for Goodwine's run for Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor]
"An April Fool" "Interview Gov. Hanly Says That Fremont Goodwine Shall Never Receive The Nomination For Lietenant Governor" "A Letter From a Prominent Farmer and ex-State Senator to the Noblesville Ledger," circa 1908, no publication information available.
"The Common Sense Candidate," circa 1908, no publication information available.
"For Governor," circa 1908, no publication information available.
Thank-you letter from Frederick L, Hovde to Mr. Goodwine, February 24, 1954.
Letter to Mr. Fremont Goodwine from R. J. Rudolph, Executive Secretary, Purdue Alumni Association, May 6, 1954
"Oldest Alumnus Dies," 1956, no publication information available.
