Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-02-11

Sixty-fve years of residence in one
place, and more than half century
of active life in that community, is
record remarkable; and much of that
period in public service, is extremely
And that such service should
be free from faint and ostentation, and
given to a fulfillment of duty we'll per-
formed, is the browning glory Of life
recently closed in our midst--the cru
cial record of one to whose home life,
character and public service am priv
LEGGED to pay need and tribute.
EmeIius S. Goodell, whose earthly
career closed on Monday, February 2,
was man whose life differed from
that of other mortals only in its in
tensity-a purpose bent on accom-
plishing what he sought personally, or
fulfilling a public trust with full meas
ure of conviction and integrity. Those
were his striking characteristics, and
those who knew him best will the more
appreciate the exactness of this state
ment. He despised hypocrisy. He
never cringed or shrank from the de-
tense of friend or a principle. He
said yes or no to ones face, not behind
his back. His likes and dislikes were
positive He held firm friendships and
cared little for the shafts of adver-
saries. 1t was but natural that one of
his positive proclivities should create
jealousies and enemies For he who
stands strong for convictions and prin-
ciples, especially in the political arena,
must expect heated and hated oppo-
sitiOn.
Mr.. Goodell was an uneomproms-
ing republican of the old school; 10y
al fighter for the temperance cause
from boyhood He won and lost bat
ties in both causes, but he was never
aquitter. His years Of activity brought
him an acquaintance with a greater
number of people, probably, than any
person who has ever lived in Vernon
County, and he was more familiar
with locations and things generally
than any / have known. His mind
was store house on local events in
history covering six decades His Of
fetal life covered a span almost from
the time he reached his majority till
the day of his setting star in the west
commencing as constable, deputy
sheriff, sheriff, city alderman, member
of the legislature, postmaster for
over twelve years, laying down earth
ly burdens while yet a member of the
county board, repeatedly serving as its
chairman, rounding out more years in
that representative capacity than any
individual who has held residence in
the county In all these honors and
responsibilities he was forceful and
ever conscientious in the fulfillment Of
duty we'll done, During his tenure as
postmaster the office grew IA import
ance from third class 70 presidential,
and il was in this course Of evolution
that complete rural free delivery was
established, reaching out to. nearly
every home within a radius Of a dozen
miles. Mr. Goodell's last official act
and trip was a visit, in December to
Milwaukee, Racine and Madison in
furtheranee Of proposed tri-county
tuberculosis sanitarium. He was par
eiculariy solicitious for that class Of
unfortunates.
Mr.. Goodell's business career cover
cd term Of fully fifty years, having
been engaged in the livery and sale
stable occupation since 1870, and for
that full time, and more, he was en-
gagged at farming the homestead
where his honored parents located in
1855. His early education was obtain
cd in the district school on Coon Prai-
RE. or strong and feteutive mind
he assimilated freely Of the knowledge
in the school of experience and was
possessed Of a fund Of information on
general subjects that qualified him for
a broad sphere Of usefulness. He vas
a charitable man and helpful to the
unfortunate and needy, but never pa
raded his benevOlences
In his home life our friends charae-
ter was dominant in richness The
cultured lady with whom he was unit
ed in marriage in 1872, Miss Helen
Brown, was an early teacher in the
county. a native. Of Greenwood town,
the daughter Of a pioneer settler. She
died almost nine years ago. The
strong characteristics of father and
mother are transmitted to the only off
spring of that union, Miss Kate Good
ell, who has been the comfort and
home keeper for the father during his
years as a widower, and is the sole
survivor Of the family, and is bowed
in submissive loneliness By the sudden
removal Of her hOnored father
Mr Goodell's death came like a
thunderbolt from a clear sky, few in