William Justus Goebel (1856 - 1900)

Born 4 Jan 1856 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA

Ancestors

Died 3 Feb 1900 at age 44 in Frankfort, Kentucky, USA

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Preceded by 33rd Governor William S. Taylor

William Goebel 34th Governor of Kentucky 1900

Succeeded by 35th Governor J. C. W. Beckham

Biography

William Goebel is Notable.

William was born on 4 January 1856 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA. He was the son of Wilhelm Goebel and Augusta Greenclay.

William Justus Goebel was a prominent American politician from Kentucky who served in various positions, including as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate. He is best known for his controversial election as the governor of Kentucky in 1900, which was marred by accusations of fraud and violence.

William Justus Goebel had a contentious relationship with the railroads during his time in politics. In the late 1800s, he was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives and a vocal critic of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N). He accused the railroad of engaging in unfair business practices and using its monopoly power to control the state's transportation industry.

In 1893, Goebel helped pass a bill that regulated railroad rates and prevented the L&N from charging excessive fees. However, the law was later overturned by the Kentucky Court of Appeals, which was seen as being heavily influenced by the railroad.

During his campaign for governor in 1900, Goebel made the regulation of the railroads a central issue. He promised to establish a state railroad commission to oversee the industry and prevent abuses of power. However, the L&N, which opposed Goebel's candidacy, launched a campaign against him and accused him of being anti-business.

After his election, Goebel continued to clash with the railroad companies. He proposed several reforms, including a law that would have prevented railroads from owning coal mines and other businesses, which he believed gave them too much power. However, the legislation was defeated in the Kentucky Senate.

Goebel's confrontations with the railroads contributed to his reputation as a populist and progressive politician who stood up for the interests of ordinary Kentuckians against powerful corporations. His efforts to regulate the railroads also helped lay the groundwork for future reforms in Kentucky and other states.

Goebel was shot and fatally wounded before he could be sworn in as governor, and his death led to a period of political unrest and violence in Kentucky. Despite the controversy surrounding his election and death, Goebel is remembered as a significant figure in Kentucky politics and as an advocate for progressive reforms.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (FamilySearch Record: MFHX-WF4: 29 May 2021), William Gobel in the entry for William Gobel, 1870.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (FamilySearch Record: MCZQ-R9X: 14 January 2022), William Goebel in household of Augusta Goebel, Covington, Kenton, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 120, sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .

• Find A Grave: Memorial #6865289

• William Goebel on Wikipedia

See Also:

• Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 1992. Pages 365-366.

• Harrison, Lowell H. Kentucky's Road to Statehood. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 1992. Pages 270-271.

• Smith, Zachary. The Battle for Kentucky: A Study of Federalism in the Upper South, 1865-1900. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press, 2010. Pages 167-169.