For
many years a resident of Mendota, Illinois, and prominently identified with
the financial interests of this city, is found the subject of this sketch,
John Goedtner. As the name indicates, Mr. Goedtner is of German origin. He
was born in Wallroth, burgermeisterei Asbach, bezirk Coblenz, Germany,
February 10, 1849, a son of John M. and Margaretha (Erlenborn) Goedtner, and
one of a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, only three
of whom are now living, — John; Heinrich, of Buchholz, Westerwald, Germany;
and Anton, of Mendota, Illinois. Both parents, farmers, lived and died in
Germany, — the father in August, 1893, at the age of seventy-three years,
and the mother in May, 1895, at the age of sixty-seven years. Both were
Catholics. The father filled various minor offices in his town, and, as is
the custom in that country, served a term in the army. During the war in
Baden his command was called as a reserve, but immediately thereafter the
war was declared at an end. Going back further in the history of the family,
we find that the paternal grandfather of our subject was John Goedtner, also
a farmer, who died in Germany, at the age of seventy-one years. His family
was composed of five sons and one daughter. The maternal grandfather of Mr.
Goedtner was Kasper Erlenborn. He was a grocer, baker and tavern-keeper, and
the government contractor to furnish bread to the starving poor during the
famine of 1847 and 1849. His age also was seventy-one at the time of death,
which occurred in 1871, at Mendota, Illinois, to which place he had come in
1858. In his family were eleven children.
John Goedtner came to
America in November, 1866, a youth in his teens, equipped with a fair
education and ambitious to make his way in the world. He came direct to
Mendota, Illinois, and as a clerk entered the employ of his uncles, Anton,
John Michael, Gottfried, Philip and Mark Erlenborn. His uncle Philip is the
only one of these now living. At that time they were engaged in a grocery,
crockery and saloon business, which they continued for several years, and in
connection there with they started the Germania Bank, in 1874. In the
meantime, in 1873, the subject of our sketch went to Chicago, where he spent
two years, the first six months as a student in Bryant and Stratton's
Business College, and the second year as a bookkeeper for James S. Kirk &
Company, soap manufacturers. Returning to Mendota in 1875, he was made
cashier of the Germania Bank, which position he filled up to December, 1876,
also during that time acting as general overseer in his uncle's store. In
1876, after his uncle Anton died, he became a partner in the bank with John
M., the firm being Erlenborn & Goedtner until July 1, 1877, when it was
succeeded by Madden & Goedtner, the present firm style.
Mr. Goedtner
resides in a pleasant home on the corner of Washington street and Wisconsin
avenue, in which block he has lived since 1879. He was married February 25,
1879, to Miss Mary L. Clinefelter, daughter of Finderan Clinefelter and
wife, nee Jacobs. They have four children, Anna L., Ida M., Justin T. B. and
Theresia. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church, and with
a number of social and other organizations he is prominently identified. He
is president of the Germania Society, and for a number of years from 1875
was its secretary. Also he is president of the Germania Gesang Verein.
Politically, he harmonizes with the Democratic party, and has served as city
treasurer of Mendota, to which office he was elected for the fourth time and
is at present deputy city treasurer. In 1894 he was nominated by acclamation
for LaSalle county treasurer on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated for
the office, his party being in the minority, but he made a creditable race,
holding even more than the full strength of his party. An important
enterprise of Mendota with which Mr. Goedtner is connected is the Mendota
Light and Heat Company, of which he is president. Much more might be said of
the active, useful life of Mr. Goedtner, but enough has been given to
indicate his position and standing, namely, in the front ranks of the
leading citizens of his city and county.
Extracted 19 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 580-582.
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