The Van Buren press., 1900-02-10
MILAN GUEBEL.
The Remarkable Career Of a Self.
Made Man,

Oh UldU WuO uhs iettutiN iudut ouNu I"
fund of history would today call for ex-
ceptional requirements.
He was born in Sullivan county,
Pennsylvania thirty-nine years age his
father an honest, hard working German
immigrant. In the sons youth the
family removed to Covington, KY,
where the father conducted small
store. The thirst for knowledge was
born in William Goebel. In the little
room behind the store where the dainty
edibles from the fatherland and little
barrels of beer from nearby brewery
we're stored. sat the boy, II book in his
hand. The father. wise beyond his day,
let the boy keep the book, when two or
three dollars week might have been
earned by occupations that to another
German father might have seemed OF
more moment.
William read and studied. He had
few playmates He was an unusual
boy. boy who loved books more than
play. He went to the public schools in
Covingtun and finished the course. he
then decided that he would become II
LAWYER He sought no advice and none
WAS OlltEtu. IllS latiCA hPHiO''N' "h'
the real career of the boy began. While
he had made few II any companions
among those of his own age, he had
carefully cultivated the acquaintance
Of men Of affairs, especially those of the
legal fraternity. Among these acquain
tance was John w. Stevenson foremost
among the lawyers of Kentucky. and at
one time Governor of the State, and the
son of the German immigrant entered
the Office of this man for the real work
of his career,
Less than ten years later John W.
Stevenson died, leaving his large estate
in the hands Of his law partner, William
Goebel, to be executed without bond
The trust remained In the hands OF the
original executor when he became the
choice of the Democratic party for
Governor of the State Of Kentucky. He
had acquired fortune of his own, had
established one of his brothers in a busi.
ness which grew to immense proportions,
sent another to Yale, and seen him
through that university, and had be-
come a master Of politics in his own
community.
In section Of our country where birth
of high degree, breeding, and social
position are generally supposed to be
elements coincident with success
William Goebel stood for what he was.
The studious, persevering youth, the
astute young lawyer, the later master
of political craft, the powerful, respec.
ted, wealthy leader of party whose
lights were bluegrass aristocrats-stood
alone and supreme--a man wholly self
made. Simple acumen and force OF
character had raised him above the caste
prejudice of Kentucky and demanded
respect which none could question.
A man of the people, he was always
consistent and always for the people,
quality of character wich resulted IN
personal supremacy which is said to have
been enjoyed by no other leader in the
history of the State. A born leader, he
possessed that peculiar power which
makes men blindly follow any instruct
ions emanating from the chief. This
faculty WAS perhaps his strongest
characteristic. He led; Others fol
lowed,
His first campaign was made in 1887,
when he was elected to the Kentucky
Senate, and from that moment his rise
in politics was assured He was returned
to the Senate ut every election, ana was
the representative Of kenton county to
the constitutional convention OF lSyO-9l
He was for time the law partner OF
John G.. Carlisle, and during his entire
legal and political career he was the zoe
Of cooperative encroachments This
feature of the man lent an added strength
to his position In the hearts of his allies
throughout the State. His campaigns
were made solely upon the issues cur
rent; he WAS no handshaking stump
orator his views were built upon u firm
foundation, and he laid them plainly
before the people More than this, he
upheld them and preserved the integrity
Of his Office and the deep regard of his
followers while he made the natural
enemies which are predestined to fall to
man who IL the fearless exponent OF
his opinions and the sturdy champion OF
the masses. The courage OF his con
victious was ever unshaken, and he
never repudiated promise.
Prior to the shooting which caused his
death the most tragic episode In his
career WAS his encounter with John w
Sandford, OF Covington, which resulted
In the death Of the latter, II was most
deplorable affair 1t is said that he
wrote and caused to be printed In a
Covington newspaper an attack on the
personal purity Of Sanford. During
the late campaign In Kentucky, the
original, IN the handwriting of Goebel
was reproduced In Louisville news
paper In justification because of a denial
Of the authorship. The provocation Is
said to have been u series OF vicions
newspaper assaults upon Goebel, wholly
political In character, and other political
antagonism,
The feud began eleven years ago, and
for four years the bitter enmity between
the two men grew, Newspapers were
used ~ the mediums and the attacks
were torrid IN their nature, Goebel
learned that SANFORD had written certain
articles criticising him, and replied In
vituperative language, disdaining to
conceal the authorship of the article,
Those familiar with the affair foresaw
the tragedy which followed, but they
saw Il In another light, Goebel was II
lawyer and u student, Sanford u veteran
of Morgaus command and skilled In
the use Of firearms, The wise ones pre-.
dicted that aoebel would avoid n Meet
Ing, but they little knew the man.
They met on the principal street of
Covington one morning, five years ago
"Are you the author OF that artiele' y