My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Gert Goebel, one of the early German settlers of Franklin County, is a native of Coburg, Germany, born April 1, 1816, the eldest child of David W. and Henrietta (Kessel) Goebel. David W. Goebel was born in 1787, came to the United States in 1834 and settled in the wilderness in Boeuf Township, where he made his home for many years, but, being a man of extraordinary intelligence and ability, he was not contented to be a frontiersman; he spent some years in St. Louis as a teacher of the sciences in public and private schools, and assisted in the office of the surveyor-general. In 1849 he was appointed surveyor of Franklin County, with our subject as deputy, and served until 1851; he then devoted his attention to private teaching in the neighborhood for some years. After the death of his wife, in 1860, he made several journeys to his native country, the last time in 1868, where he died in 1872. Hon. Gert Goebel received a fine scientific education, being a French, German and Latin scholar. His English education was obtained after his removal to the United States, which was with his parents. He was married in St. Charles County, in March, 1842, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Henry Becker, natives of Germany. They have seven children: August, Julia (widow of August Spinner), Emilia (wife of Benton Osterwald), Cecilie, Adolph, Charles (married to Bertha Frick, of this neighborhood,) and Edward, of Louisville, Ky. Adolph is corresponding secretary of one of the largest mining companies in Colorado. Mr. Goebel devoted his attention to farming until 1849, when he was appointed his father’s deputy surveyor, and in 1851 was elected to the office of county surveyor, which office he held four years. He was a stanch Union man during the war and an outspoken emancipationist, which views elected him to the Legislature in 1862. In 1864 he was elected to the Senate, representing Franklin, Gasconade and Osage Counties; he was re-elected in 1866, and served in that capacity four years, being one of the ablest members of that body. In 1870 he was appointed-chief clerk of the State register office, served about eighteen months, and has since been engaged in literary work of various kinds. For some years he has been a regular correspondent of the St. Louis Westliche Post, and contributes occasionally to various other newspapers. In 1877 he published a work entitled “Longer than a Man’s Life in Missouri,” a work that has met with creditable commendation from some of the ablest writers in the country. A ready writer, fluent speaker, and good conversationalist, Mr. Goebel is a man who has long been recognized as a leader not only of the German element, but of his party in general, and one who could always command its full support. Prior to the war he was a Benton Democrat but since the opening of the Rebellion he has been a Republican Mrs. Goebel died March 23,1864; she was born in 1824. In early life Mr. Goebel spent a large part of his time in hunting, and many are the deer that have fallen at the crack of his trusty rifle. In his house are yet to be found some of the relics of the chase.