The
Goodwill Coal Camp got its name from the
firm of Robert Goodwill and
Company. At the age of 25, Robert
Goodwill came to America in 1852 from
Northumberland County, England with his
wife, Katherine Wake, and oldest son,
Anthony G. Robert settled in Gold
Mine Gap, Pennsylvania, near thecity of
Shamokin. He had been a coal miner
in England since the age of nineand
continued until he started his own coal
company at Shamokin. After hearing the
news of the thick seams of coal in
southern West Virginia, Robert traveled
to Pocahontas and secured a lease for 800
acres of coal land from the Flat Top Land
Association. He returned to
Shamokin to organize the
company, and in November 1886 the firm of
Robert Goodwill and Company conducted
business under this name until December
1888, when the company was incorporated
as The Goodwill Coal and Coke
Company. The Goodwill Family owned
the entire stock in the company.
Robert was President, Anthony G. was Vice
President, Philip was general manager and
treasurer, and William F. Goodwill was
secretary. Robert Goodwill was listed as
President of Goodwill Coal and Coke
Companyuntil 1892, and then he resigned
from that position on account of failing
health. Anthony and William became
presidents of coal companies and other
businesses in Shamokin,
Pennsylvania. Philip became
President of the Goodwill Coal and Coke
Company. Robert Goodwill died in
Shamokin in 1898.After
Robert and Philip Goodwill opened a coal
mine in Goodwill in 1886 Justus Collins opened
another Goodwill coal mine in 1887. Coal baron Philip
Goodwill built his home in the Town of
Bramwell and it is now featured as one of
Bramwell's many HISTORIC HOUSES.
The former
River's End B&B was
originally the home of Justus Collin's
brother, Jairus Collins who owned 6
mines. It is a brick and frame vernacular
style home that is also located on the
Bluestone River in the Town of Bramwell
,West Virginia. This historic house was
built in 1911.
There were two
Goodwill Coal Tipples ( Mercer County, WV
) that were operated by Louisville Coal
& Coke Co. Winding Gulf Collieries.
The second GOODWILL COAL TIPPLE was later built in
Goodwill. It is featured in a 1939
photograph.
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