Robert Goodfellow married Nancy Emeline Mathews in about 1859 in the St. Eagle Hotel
of Cape Vincent, New York.  They had four children together; Emeline died in 1871.

Robert Goodfellow ran away from home at the age of 16.  Lived in Illinois and later moved to Stockton, Kansas where he became a US Marshal. 

After Robert's first wife died, he went back to Parham and married Jane Bertrim.  They returned to Illinois. Jane was apparently a great step-mother to all of Robert's children by his first marriage. 

According to Robert's obituary, he and Jane had 5 children - 2 who died in infancy, 1 who died at age 3, plus 2 girls who survived.

This biography of Robert Goodfellow was written in 1893.

ROBERT GOODFELLOW is engaged in farming on section 25, Papineau Township. He is a native of Scotland, his birth having occurred on the 8th of May, 1842, near the city of Glasgow. He is a son of John Goodfellow, who grew up and married in Scotland Mary Gilchrist, who was reared in that country, though a native of Ireland. The father emigrated to Canada in 1843 and settled in Ontario. He was one of the pioneers of the section in which he located and had to clear and improve a farm in what was practically a wilderness. There be lived and reared his family and made his home until 1868. His widow is still living, residing with a daughter in Canada.

In their family were three sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to mature year. The eldest, David, is a prosperous farmer in Canada; Robert is next in order of birth; John also carries on agricultural pursuits in Canada; Susanna is the wife of Norman Curl, of Northern Michigan; Mary is the wife of Andrew House, of Canada; and Ellen Jane is the youngest of the family.

Robert Goodfellow passed his early years on his father's farm in the usual manner of farmer boys. He received limited school advantages and is mostly self-educated since arriving at manhood. He came to this county in 1860, arriving here in March of that year. He first started to work on a farm, being employed for several years by the month.

In 1859, Mr. Goodfellow was married in New York and came here with his young wife in 1860. Four children grace their union: Estella is the wife of Mr. Addas, of Denver, Colo.; Clara is the wife of Charles Pierce, of this county; William is married and resides in Northern Michigan; and Lloyd also lives in Michigan. The mother of these children died in February, 1871. On the 13th of November, 1871, he was united in marriage with Jane H. Bertram, who was born and reared in Canada, a daughter of William Bertram. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow have been born four children: Ida Jane, the wife of A. Passom, of Nebraska; Libbie E., who resides at home; Gracie, who died at the age of four years; and one who died in infancy. The father of Mrs. Goodfellow has been for many years a prominent farmer in Canada. He reared a family of eight children, as follows: Wesley, of Harrowsmith, who conducts a carriage manufactory in Ontario; George Henry; who also conducts a carriage manufactory; Jane H.; Emily, wife of James Brown, of Keath, Ontario; Ada, wife of Nelson Tatro, of Clifton, Ill.; William D., a carriage manufacturer of Parham, Ontario; Elizabeth, wife of Clayton Wager, a Postmaster of Parham; and Maggie, wife of Carson Barr, who also lives in Parham. The mother of the family is deceased.

Below:  Robert Goodfellow in the 1880s with daughters
Libby and Ida, and with his second wife Jane.

Robert's obituary from the Rooks County Record April 21, 1916.

The death of Robert Goodfellow on Thursday evening of last week, removed from our midst one of the kindest and best of men, the big-hearted neighbor who has always lived up to the Good Samaritan definition furnished by the Christ.  Numberless acts of sympathetic service are related of him now that he is gone.  But a few days ago, he was on the streets after months of confinement and the enjoyment he got from the greetings and felicitations of everybody who saw him, suffused his face with smiles.  He was a man whose life was intensely social and from those cordial relations with his fellows, he drew unlimited satisfaction.  He was on of the few who lived up to his name.  When we say Goodfellow, we embody in the name, his whole character.

The funeral was held Friday afternoon at the M.E. church, conducted by Rev. F. E. Madden.  A profusion of floral offerings and pieces was placed around the bier, some by his devoted family and other by loyal friends in the Order of Odd Fellows and by the Rebekahs.

The pallbearers were old time Odd Fellows:  H.E. Miller, H.C. Sweet, Chas. Brown, Miles Hindman, Riley Brown and Walter Low.  The ritual service of the order was given at the grave.  Mr. Goodfellow had been a member of this order for thirty-five years.

Following, is a portion of what Rev. Madden said of the departed brother:

Life's road is of varying length.  For some long; for some short.  The Wiseman of the Book has set it at threescore and ten, or by reason of strength, fourscore.  In the Providence of God, the life trail of Robert Goodfellow extended to the end of his seventy-fourth year.  It was indeed a long, long road, taking its beginning in old Scotland on the eighth day of May, 1842 and after crossing the sea, winding through the Providence of Ontario, Canada, into the United States, back to Canada and then again to the United States, in Illinois and thence westward to Kansas, ending at Stockton, Kansas on the evening of the eighth of April, 1916.

As we look over the record of his years, we find the early years after he had past his second birthday, spent in Ontario, Canada.  Most of his life was spent on the farm.  At the age of seventeen, he was married to Emeline Mathews, with whom for twelve years, he walked, until she was summoned to the higher life.  To this first union were born four children, all of whom survive:  Mrs. Stell Addis, of Denver, Colorado; Mrs. V.A. Hathaway of Martinton, Illinois; William Goodfellow of Kellogg, Idaho and Lloyd Goodfellow of Westport, Ontario.

On the thirteenth of November, 1871, Mr. Goodfellow was again united in marriage with Jane R. Bertrim.  Into this home, five children were born, two dying in infancy and one at the age of three years, the two, Mrs. A.C. Posson of Ragan, Nebraska and Mrs. W. E. Near of Drewey's Bluff, Virginia, remaining to do honor to a father's memory, and bring cheer to the widowed mother.

Mr. Goodfellow came to Rooks County about 22 years ago and has lived on a farm near Stockton until about eleven years ago, when he moved to town. Since that time, he has served the town as street commissioner and marshal for about nine years.

The deceased was a member in good standing of the Odd Fellows for a period of about 30 years.  Early in life, he joined the Methodist church and for many years was active as a steward and Sunday school superintendent.  After settling on a ranch in Rooks County some distance from church, he was not so active as formerly.  In talking with the writer, several times during his late illness, he expressed himself as at peace and wishing he might go home.  His wish has been fulfilled and we leave him at the end of the trail where the sunset gates unbar, and most needs wait until our day of release shall come when we too can walk the streets of gold and be forever in the presence of the Lord.

We commend the wife and children in their hour of sadness to the care and love of the Father, who knoweth the needs of our hearts and will satisfy them according to his riches in glory in Jesus Christ.  May his presence abide with you forever.

1. Muriel geneseeker01@hotmail.com