HENRY GOEBEL. The enterprising and progressive German farmer, as well as the self-made man, is admirably represented in the subject of this notice, who is pursuing the even tenor of his way at a good homestead, on section 17, township 16, range 12. The comfortable property which he now enjoys is the result of his own labors, he not having received any financial assistance from any source, but building up his fortune by the labor of his hands and the practice of that frugal economy which always confined the expenses of living to his yearly income.
Our subject first opened his eyes to the light on the other side of the Atlantic, in the Province of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Oct. 8, 1837, and is the son of John and Christina (Schneider) Goebel, who emigrated to the United States in 1845. Henry was then a lad of eight years, but he remembers many of the incidents of preparation and the voyage, which was made in forty-six days on a sailing vessel from Bremen to Baltimore. The family came direct to Illinois, and located first near the present town of Arenzville, but what was then the wilderness of Cass County. A short time afterward, however, they moved into the village, where the father engaged in brock-making, and where the mother died in 1885. John Goebel departed this life at the home of his son, Henry, June 16, 1887. They were the parents of seven children, but two of whom survive, our subject and his sister Elizabeth, Mrs. Engelbach, a widow, and a resident of Arenzville.
Our subject was reared to man's estate mostly amid the pursuits of farm life, receiving a limited education and doing a large amount of pioneer labor. He was about nineteen years old when he removed with his parents to Mason County, and thirteen years later purchased his father's farm and lived there until 1860. IN the spring of that year he came to the farm which he now owns and occupies. Most of his property - 373 acres - lies in the fertile Meredosia bottoms, and is well improved and valuable. He has a fine residence, which, with its surroundings, forms one of the most attractive homes in this part of the county. Not only has he been industrious, but has managed his affairs with that good judgment which has resulted in very profitable investments, so that he has now a competence for his old age, and can at any time retire from active labor.
Upon becoming a voting citizen, Mr. Goebel identified himself with the Republican party, and is entirely in sympathy with the institutions of his adopted country. He has served as School Trustee for the last six years, and also as Director, and has been Road Commissioner two years. He is one of those men upon whom the community depends to carry out its best projects and endorse the enterprises calculated to advance the interests of the people.
On the 30th of May, 1869, our subject was married in Mason County, Ill., to Miss Catherine Leippert. This lady was born in Cass County, this State, July 27, 1850, and is the daughter of Emil and Catherine (Lang) Leippert, who were natives of Germany, and are now residents of Mason County. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Goebel, there are five living - John, Henry, William, George and Matilda. Mr. Goebel is a member of the Lutheran Church, and, socially, belongs to Benevolent Lodge No. 52 A.F. & A.M., at Meredosia. When his father landed in the city of Baltimore he had just twenty-five cents in money, and the property which he afterward accumulated in this country stands as a lasting monument to his industry and perseverance.