The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-16
THE LATE WILLIAM G0EBEL.
Sketch of the Man whose Life was
Made n sacrifice To Party Conteu-
tfons in Kentucky

Illustrative in high degree Of the theory
that many shapes his own destiny. and
that TO the persistent and industrious
time brings its own reward. and that
these requisites, combined with honor
n integrity. can lift the poor,
from ~obscurity to fame and renown-
Born in Sullivan county Pennsylva-I
MIA, forty-five years ago. the parents
OF h senator came to Covington when
he was a mere child and pen a
boarding house. His companions of
boyhood days say he was IN e~xtraorei-
nary lad. for while his companions
We're playing football or marbles Bill
ly" Goebel spent his leisure moments
in reading well-thumbed books OF his
tory.
Drifting from school young Goebel
entered Duhme's jewelry establish
ment in this city, but the work bench
was speedily vacated. and in 1872 he
entered the low office Of Stevenson &
Myers, the former ex-governor OF Ken
lucky and the latter the father OF Hon.
Harvey Myers.
While working at the jewelers. bench
young Goebel became acquainted with
John F. May. a cobbling shoemaker.
~wondrously we'll read, and who pos
sessed a library of Did. well worn books
and TO these young Goebel was given
ample access. Unde this preceptor,
Goebels mind was broadened. and here
were first impressed upon his mind the
possibilities of the future.
That Goebel was true to his friends
was shown by his devotion 10 o
May. The Door shoemaker had a hard
fight with the world. but his student.
Billy Goebel, creeping onward and
upward, never forgot his first friend.
In the study of law. as in school, Goe-
bel diverged from the beaten track and
/ whi1n nthnr my rx-Ar NOS
tering the intricacies OF the waltz and
quadrine. the complicated evolutions Of
billiard and pool balls about the cush-
toned table, Goebel. locked up in his of
flee, delved deeper and harder into the
solving of the manifold propositions OF
law before him.
Mr.. Myers retiring from the firm, eX-
Governor Stevenson and Judge James
O'Hara formed a partnership, retaining
Goebel, who later formed a law part
nership with John CT. Carlisle, eX-con-
gresham, eX-United States senator and
eX-secretary of the treasury. The es-
TEEN and admiration entertained for
his protege was forcibly shown by Gov
ernor Stevenson when approaching the
end of life. Possessing a vast income
and accumulation of wealth Governor
Stevenson, in making his will, inserted
one clause, that William Goebel should
be made executor without bond. That
IuSl hc sun LOluS lOudS III IiS pCtIi
faithful to the obligation put upon him.
In 1887, a vacancy occurred in the
Kentucky state senate by the elevation
of State Senator J. w. Bryan to lieu
tenant governor, and Goebel was sent
to the senate and has been returned to
hat Office time n again. until mis-
death.
tism. Senator Goebel is a type of man.
hood peculiar to himself. The study
Of his profession was an apparent in
born desire, and with this his only in
eentive society ethics were diSdained
He modelled a world in miniature, with
himself as the only inhabitant.
While obscured from the social
throng, Senator Goebel was invariably
accessible to the poor and lowly. or TO
these unfortunate, without money and
needinP advice. Facts were stated, the
advice offered, and never until the case
was finally ended. Their the client, if
successful, was allowed to name his
own price, likewise the time for pay
ment best adequate to his own purpose
and purse.
In the legal profession Senator GOe-
bel had few superiors, and his associ-
ates at the bar realized this. When
ever cases involving great issues were
at stake Senator Goebel's service were
in demand, and every membe of the
bar felt hat he was violating no legal
6thic nor rule of friendship when call
ing and asking for gratuitOus advice.
Senator Goebel is recorded as collect
ing the largest fee ever paid to an at
torney in Kenton or Campbell county,
when he won the case against the Cen
trail Bridge Company for c. b. Sim
rail- and others, securing for them a
share in the bonds of the company
amounting to $3.50, 900, one-third $3.50, 000)
Of which was given to Senator Goebel
as his fee.
While adverse to mixing or mingling
with the world in general, giving rise
to reports of a cold, sordid disposition,
those knowing we'll the quality Of the
| senator knew positively the reverse,
and that beneath the exterior of his
bosom beat one of the warmest hearts
that ever throbbed in human breast.
His devotion to lends vas proven
bal. and never did he turn down an
old for a new one. Bold and courage
Gus. without fear Of man or fate, yet
withal as gentle and lovable in de-
meanor as the mildeSt wo-
man, he drew about him friends that
fairly WOrShiped him.
While charged with all the crimes in
the category, never once was he prov
ed guilty, a fact attested when he ran
for office, for then the bitterest par
tisan. the most rampant accuser about
faced and cast his vote for Goebel.
While not a church mi or noted
for piety. he was loved and admired
by priest and preacher alike. Osten-
tation he disOwned. Where a church
was built or jubilee celebrated, no mat
ter what creed or faith, a check for
$50 or more was invariably found by
the pastor interested. bearing the name
of William Goebel, with the seal Of Sc
crecy imposed by the words. 'in con-
fdence."
His mother died years ago. a devout
attendant at St. Paurs German Pro
testant church, Covington, but her
name is still carried as an honorary
member n her yearly due Were paid
in advance by her son. the senator.
During the recent bitter campaign
the opponents of the democratic candi-
date made a feature of the shooting
of Hon John L. Sanford, asher and
practical head of the Farmers and
Traders bank in Covington. by Senator
Goebel on April IL, 1895. The killing
was the elimination of a protracted Sc
| ries of personal business and political