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 OHN S. GOODYEAR. County Clerk, became
a resident of Charleston in 1887, and has
been incumbent of his present office since
December, 1886. His history is one of remarkable interest, illustrating the career of a bright
and ambitions temperament, which led its possessor.
early in life to attempt that which many older men
would have shrunk from as impossible. Mr. Goodyear was born in the city of St. Louis. Mo., June 27, 1844, and is the son of Antoine and Catherine A. (Shibley) Goodyear, natives respectively of France and Virginia. Our subject, being the first grandchild of John and Eliza Shibley. was taken by them at an early age, and brought to this State, where he was reared on a farm and received a good education, completing his studies in the academy at Winchester. At the outbreak of the war, in 1861, he was one of the first to offer his services in behalf of the Union, and attempted to enlist in the 14th Illinois Infantry. He was rejected, however, on account of his youth, but, managed to follow his grandfather who was a sutler, and whenever there was any prospect of a battle young John would seize a gun and go out with the 14th into battle, where he was permitted to do guard duty and go with the soldiers foraging. In this manner he succeeded in being present at the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and took great pleasure in drawing his gun on the enemy, standing guard and gathering in provisions. His grandfather finally disposed of the ship which had carried his stores as a sutler, and returned home in the summer of 1803. Our subject, however, was not prepared to become a civilian, and once more attempted to enlist, this time with success, becoming a member of Co. F, 33rd Ill. Vol. Inf., in March, 1864, and remained thereafter in service until the close of the war. He formed one of the guard posted on the route from New Orleans to Brazier City, and was afterward at the capture of Spanish Fort, the city of Mobile, Ft. Blakesley, Montgomery, and Selma, Ala. The war had now practically ended, and our hero proudly marched with his comrades along the streets of Springfield, Ill., where he was paid off and received his honorable discharge, Dec. 7, 1865. Upon returning from the army Mr. Goodyear worked at the tinner’s trade in Elkhart, Ill., for about six months, after which he officiated as clerk in a dry-goods store until 1868. Soon afterward he crossed the Mississippi, and was similarly occupied in a store at Humboldt, Kan., in which he subsequently purchased an interest, but continued his connection with the business only about eight months. Afterward he engaged in the sale of books and stationery until 1873, then came back to Illinois, locating for a time at Winchester. After another trip to Kansas, we find him in Columbus. Ohio, where he was engaged in clerking until the spring of 1874, and then returning to Winchester, taught school until the following spring. He clerked awhile at Mattoon. and then purchased a book-store with which he occupied himself until his election to his present otfice. In the meantime he had served as City Clerk of Mattoon four terms and was Town Clerk five years. He represented the township in the County Board of Supervisors one year, which office, with that of City Clerk, he resigned to enter upon his duties as County Clerk. He has been well and favorably known throughout the county for many years, and in locating in Charleston only took up his residence among his old friends. Mr. Goodyear was married, on the 6th of November, 1868, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Emanuel and Mary Poston, of Ohio. Of this union there has been born one child, a daughter, Maude K. Our subject’s maternal grandfather was a native of Amsterdam, Holland, where his birth took place April 18, 1796. He emigrated to America with his parents at an early age. They located in New York City, and when eighteen years of age their son removed to Charleston, S. C., and thence to Charlottesville, Va., where he married Miss Eliza Baccustowe. After marriage, they located at Chillicothe, Ohio, afterward removing to Cincinnati, and from there to St. Louis in April, 1833, where they remained for twelve years following. Mr. Shibley became a resident of Winchester, Ill., in 1847. At the breaking out of the war, in 1861, he went as a sutler with the 14th Illinois Infantry, until the following year, when he returned, and moving into the city, practically abandoned active labor, and lived retired until his decease, Sept. 20, 1881. His wife, the grandmother of Mr. G., died in December, 1876. The mother of Mr. Goodyear died at the residence of the family in Winchester, Ill., in January, 1887, when about fifty-two-years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Goodyear are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. G. is a pronounced Republican, and socially is a member of the G. A. R. and various other orders. |
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