John Noble Goodwin (October 18, 1824 – April 29, 1887) was a United States attorney and politician who served as the first Governor of Arizona Territory. He was also a Congressman from Maine and served as Arizona Territory's delegate to the United States House of Representatives. Background Goodwin was born on October 18, 1824, in South Berwick, Maine, to John and Mary (Noble) Goodwin. He was educated at Berwick Academy and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1844. Following graduation, Goodwin studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1848. He then began a law practice in South Berwick. Goodwin married Susan Howard Robinson of Augusta, Maine, on October 27, 1857. The couple had three children, Susie Robinson, Richard Emery, and Howard Robinson, the youngest born on November 7, 1863. Maine Goodwin began his political career in 1854 with his election to the Maine Senate. This was followed in 1860 with a successful run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Though considered hard-working and likable with a moderate approach, Goodwin's single term as a Congressman was described as "undistinguished". He was defeated by 127 votes in his 1862 reelection bid. Following his defeat, Goodwin began looking for another federal posting. He was supported in the effort by U.S. Senators William P. Fessenden and Lot M. Morrill, both of Maine, along with several former colleagues from the House of Representatives. On March 6, 1863, following passage of the Arizona Organic Act, President Lincoln appointed Goodwin as Chief Justice of Arizona Territory. When John A. Gurley, Lincoln's initial appointee for Governor of Arizona Territory, died on August 19, 1863, Goodwin was selected to fill the open position. Governorship The Governor's party, consisting of most of Arizona's appointed officials, left Washington, D.C., for Fort Leavenworth. They then took the Santa Fe Trail, arriving in Santa Fe, New Mexico on November 26, 1863. The party then crossed into Arizona, and on December 29, 1863 held a ceremony at Navajo Springs to formally establish the Arizona Territory and administer oaths of office to the territorial officials. As Congress had not specified the location of the territorial capital, it fell to Goodwin to select an initial location. Tucson as the largest settlement in the territory had been considered a likely location, but based upon the recommendation of General James H. Carleton who viewed Tucson as full of Mexicans and Confederate sympathizers, Fort Whipple was instead selected.