Dr. John Henry Goebel, physician and surgeon, practicing at Franksville, was born in Raymond Township, March 24, 1883, a son of John and Christiana (Roethe) Goebel, both of whom are natives of this state. The paternal grandparents were John and Margaret Goebel, who were born in Prussia, Germany, and for some time the former sailed the seas. At length he came to the new world, settling at Kilbournville, Wisconsin, where he built a log house. He followed the trade of harness making, which he had learned in his native country, and he also conducted a store for a number of years. He passed away in Racine in 1915 at the age of eighty-two. The maternal grandfather, Henry Roethe, was born in Germany and came to the new -world in early life. He is now living at Husher, Wisconsin, at the age of eighty-seven. John and Christiana (Roethe) Goebel were married in Caledonia Township in 1882. The father was the proprietor of a general store for a number of years and was one of the early postmasters of Kilbournville, Wisconsin. For twenty-seven years he conducted business as a merchant and won substantial success in that connection. In his family were eight children, of whom four are yet living: John H.; Edward, who is an engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and lives at Milwaukee ; Frank, a laborer residing in Raymond, and Irene, who has graduated from the Oakwood high school and expects to enter the normal school in the fall. The family is identified with the Catholic Church and Mr. Goebel is a member of the Catholic Knights. In politics he is a democrat and he served as town treasurer for two terms. He is now living retired, making his home in Thompsonville.
John Henry Goebel attended the St. Louis Catholic school of Caledonia and for six months was a pupil in the district schools. He was graduated from the Oakwood high school with the class of 1900 and for two years he was a rural route mail carrier. He afterward worked in his father’s store, but in 1905, desiring to become a member of the medical profession, he entered the Wisconsin College of Physicians Surgeons, there pursuing a four years’ course, which he completed by graduation with the class of 1909. He began practice at Raymond Center, where he remained for four and a half years, and in September, 1913, came to Franksville, where he opened an office and has since followed his profession. His broad reading keeps him in touch with the advanced thought and methods of the medical fraternity and he is ever careful in the diagnosis of his cases and successful in the results achieved.
On the 19th of July, 1910, Dr. Goebel was married to Miss Helen Hahn, a daughter of Jacob and Helen (Brunn) Hahn, both natives of Milwaukee County. The former was a son of George and Salome (Beck) Hahn, the former a native of Alsace-Lorraine, whence he removed to Milwaukee County in 1822. There he took up a claim and became the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land, being the most extensive farmer of the County at that date. He was not only active along agricultural lines but also did much to influence public thought and opinion and several times represented his district in the state legislature. He had a wide acquaintance and was popular with his fellow townsmen. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Goebel was Rudolph von Brunn, who married Sophia Zimmerman. He was born in Pomerania and was a nobleman of that country, while his wife was born in Bavaria. On account of the liberal views which he held he left Germany and became a resident of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. in 1848. He there turned his attention to the occupation of farming and he also occupied an office in the courthouse in Milwaukee for a number of years. By reason of his liberal views he lost his estate in Germany and when he came to the United States he obtained one hundred and sixty acres of land, winning substantial success as the years passed. He was a man of broad education and wide culture who left the impress of his individuality for good upon the community in which he lived. His personal worth aided in establishing standards of intellectual, moral and cultural values and his leadership constituted an element for public progress. His daughter, Helen Brunn, became the wife of Jacob Hahn, who was born in 1852 and is still living. Mrs. Hahn, whose birth occurred in 1854, passed away in 1913. They were married in Milwaukee County. Wisconsin, July 4, 1876. Mr. Hahn is extensively engaged in farming, making his home near Oakwood, Wisconsin. In his family were eight children, of whom five are living: George, a street car conductor residing in Milwaukee; Julius, who is farming in Milwaukee County; Emma, at home; Mrs. Goebel, and Allen, who is engaged in farming and also resides at home. At one time Mr. Hahn was the owner of over four hundred acres of land, but sold two hundred acres. His property remains a valuable and attractive one, well improved and equipped with all modern accessories. In politics he is a republican and he attends the Lutheran church. His daughter, Mrs. Goebel, was educated in the district schools and in the Oakwood high school, from which she was graduated. She afterward took up the profession of teaching, which she followed for seven years in Milwaukee County.
Dr. and Mrs. Goebel have become the parents of a son, Eugene John, who was born October 20, 1914. Dr. Goebel is a member of the Catholic Church. In politics he is a democrat, but is independently inclined. He has served as in with officer and school clerk but has never been ambitious to hold positions of public preferment. Fraternally he is connected with the Catholic Order of Foresters. At the time of their marriage Dr. and Mrs. Goebel started with very little, but today they have a beautiful home with all modern improvements and he enjoys a good practice, which is constantly increasing.