Untitled Document

Henry Goembel

Henry Goembel, a retired farmer, resident at Geneseo, is a native of the State of Hesse , in Germany , and was born June 14, 1822 , on the river Fulda , a tributary of the Rhine , in the village Nederaula. He is the oldest son of Sebastian and Anna Goembel, both of Hessian birth. His grandfather was one of the Hessian soldiers who were hired to the English by his Government to aid the British in the War of the Revolution, or, as is claimed, was sold by the German ruler, as that nation holds the ownership of its subjects to a certain age, or until a certain amount of military duty is performed. The ancestor who came to America under such circumstances was taken prisoner at New York , and after his release became a loyal adherent of the government of the Colonies. He was engaged some time as a clerk, and after the declaration of peace he returned to the land of his nativity. There he reared a family, and in 1834 his son, Sebastian, accompanied by his wife and eight children, sailed from Bremen for the United States . They were on the sea 69 days, and landed at the port of New Orleans . They came to America on a German sailing-vessel, named the Ernest Gustav. After a stay of two weeks at the Crescent City , they set out for St. Louis . However, they debarked at Havana , Ill. , and continued their stay there a month. At the end of that time they went to Peoria , which was then called Fort Clark .

The elder Goembel bought a claim on Farm Creek, in Tazewell County , or rather took possession and held it until the land sales came on, when he secured his title. At the time he bought the claim of the first who had settled on it, a log house had bee built, and that was the sole improvement on the entire track. Mr. Mr. Goembel placed the entire estate under the best character of improvements, and erected an excellent class of buildings thereon. After a residence on the property of several years, he removed to Washington , in the same county. There they family remained, and there the father and mother both died. Six of their eight children are yet living.

Mr. Goembel, of this sketch, grew to the estate of manhood in the county of Tazewell . He was an inmate of the family of his father until 1849. In that year he bought timberland, situated about one and a half miles from the place of his father, and there he settled. He built a frame house; and as he had a natural faculty for the use of tools he did the main part of the work on it himself. He was the owner and occupant of the place until 1864. He then sold the farm, which contained 200 acres, and of which the half part was improved. In October of the year named he came to Henry County . He located in the township of Alba , where he purchased 200 acres of land. It had at the time a reasonably good set of frame building on it, and he proceeded with the work of its improvement. He was prospered in all his plans, and made additional purchases until he became the proprietor of 700 acres. He is still the owner of the farm, which he rented in 1871, and removed to the vicinity of the city of Geneseo . He bought 40 acres lying adjoining the town-plat, and has since purchased several acres in addition. He is also the owner of two farms in the township of Phenix .

The marriage of Mr. Goembel to Catharine Fey took place in 1849. She is a native of the same German province from whence her husband came. Their children are Zachariah T., who lives in the township of Phenix ; Charles C., of Alba Township ; Anna, wife of Joseph Greenwood; Elizabeth (Mrs. Lawrency Seyler) lives in Audubon Co., Iowa ; John H., of Phenix Township; Millie, Henry L. and Kittie at home.

1885 Portrait & Biographical Album of Henry Co., Illinois page 524

Transcribed by Jan Roggy

Illinois Ancestors