The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-04
WILLIAM E. GOEBEL, THE MAN.


shapes his own destiny, and that TO the
persistent and industrious time brings It's
own reward, and that these requisites,
combined with honor and Integrity, can
lift the poor boy from obscurity 20 fame
and renown.
Born In Sullivan county. Pennsylvania
forty-five years ago the parents al the
senator came to Covington when he was
mere child and opened boarding house
His companions OF boyhood days say he
was an extraordinary lad. for while his
companions were playing football or mar
bles billy" Goebel spent his leisure mo
ments in reading we'll thumbed books Of
history.
Drifting from school young Goebel en-
tered Duhme's jewelry establishment In
this city, but the work bench was speedily
vacated, and in 1873 he entered the law
office of Stevenson & Myers the former
ex-governor of Kentucky and the latter
the father OF Hon. Harvey Myers.
While working at the jewelers. bench
young4Goebel became acquainted with
John F. May, cobbllng shoemaker, won
drously we'll read. and who possessed a
library OF old. we'll worn books, and to
these young Goebel was given ample ac-
cess. Under this preceptor, Goebel's mind
was broadened. and here were first inn
pressed upon his mind the possibilities Of
the future.
That Goebel was true to his friends was
Isb1 l. nhp Mav ba
poor shoemaker had a hard fight with the
world but his student, Billy" Gobel
creeping onward and upward. never for
got his nrst friend.
In the study of law, as in school, Goe-
bel diverged from the beaten track, and
while other young lawyers were mastering
the intricacies of the waltz and quadriHe,
the complicated evolutions of billiard and
pool balls about the cushioned table, Goo
| bel, locked up In his office, delyed deeper
and harder into the solving OF the mani
fold propositions of law before him.
Mr.. Myers retiring from the firm, ex-
Governor Stevenson and Judge James
| OHara formed a partnership, retaining
Goebel, who later formed law partner
ship with John G. Carlisle, ex-congress-
man, ex-United States senator and eX-
secretary OF the treasury. The esteem and
| admiration entertained for his protege
was forcibly shown by Governor Steven
son when approaching the end OF life Pos
sessing a vast income and accumulation
of wealth Governor Stevenson, in making
his will, inserted one clause, that Will
lam Goebel should be made executor with
out bond. That trust he still holds today.
and has been faithful to the obligation
put upon him.
| In 1887, vacancy occurred In the Ken
tucky State senate by the elevation OF
state Senator J. W. Bryan TO lieutenant
governor, and Goebel was sent to the SEN
ate and has been returned to that office
time and again. until the present day.
Practically without con@it or egotism.
Senator Goebel Is type OF manhood pc
culiar to himself The study OF his yro-
fession was an apparent Unborn desire, and
with this his only incentive society ethics
were disdained. He modelled a world In
miniature. with himself as the only in
habitant
While obscured from the social throng
Senator Goebel was invariably accessible
TO the poor and lowly. or to those uufor-
g
Facts were stated, the advice offered, and
never was the subject of fee or reward
| introduced until the case was finally end
ed Then the client. il successful was
allowed 70 name his own price, likewise
the time for payment best adequate 10 his
own purpose and purse.
In the legal profession Senator Goebel
mad few superiors aud his associates at
tho bar realized this. Whenever cases In
2 ~
ator Goebel's services were in demand and
every member of the bar felt that he was
violating no legal ethic nor rule of friend
snip when calling and asking for gratui-
tous advice.
Senator Goehel Is recorded as collecting
the largest fee ever paid to an attorney in
henton or Campbell county, when he won
tne case against the Central Bridge com
pany Tor C. b. Simrall and others sacur
ing for them a share in the bonds Of ths
company amounting to $3.50. 900 one-third
lSooO0O) OF which was given to Senator
Goebel as his fee,
While averse to mixing or minglinr with
the world in general, giving rise to re-
ports OF a cold, sordid disposition. those
knowing well the quality OF the senator
knew positively the reverse, and thai he.
meath the exterior OF his bosom beat an,
OF the warmest hearts that ever ,brobbad
in human breast.
ms devotion TO friends was proverbal
and never did he turn down an old for d,
new one. Bold and courageous witbou,
rear OF man or fate, yet withal as aanta
anu loFaole in demeanor as the mildest
hammered woman, he drew about biD,
friends that fairly worshiped him.
While charged with all the crimes In tho
category. never once was he proved eniItv
a taet a'tested when he ran for ofrce. "a
then the bitterest partisan, the most ram
pant secuser, about faced and cast his vofA
lor Goebel. While not a church memh ~ |
OF noted for piety, he was loved and "a.
mlred by priest and preacher alike. "a
tehtauon he disowned. Where a nburch
was puilt or jubilee celebrated. no MAJ
ter what creed or faith. check for an |
or more was Invariably found by the nasEov |
interested, bearing the name of WIlIiam 1
Soepel' with the seal OF secrecy impossd |
oy me words, lin confidence"
MS mother died years ago. a deyout s.,
lendant at ST. Paul's German Protestsn, |
church, Coyngton, but her name IL stn, |
carried as an honorary member ana ~
Yearly dues are paid in advance by her
son, the senator,
during the recent bitter campaign tbo
opponents OF the democratic candidate
made feature of the shooting OF Hon