Will County IL Archives Biographies.....GOODSPEED, FRANCIS 
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Paula Winke-Martisek wranglerjack@comcast.net September 17, 2007, 8:31 pm

Author: GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

JUDGE FRANCIS GOODSPEED, deceased, a pioneer of 1847 in Joliet, was born in 

Tioga County, Pa., January 25, 1821, a son of John Goodspeed, a merchant.  He 

spent two years in Genesee Seminary at Lima, N. Y., after which he came to 

Joliet.  He entered the office of Hon. Hugh Henderson and engaged in the study 

of law.  In 1848 he was admitted to the bar.  Shortly afterward he formed a 

partnership with another attorney, upon whose death he became a partner of Hon. 

Josiah McRoberts, and later was with Hon. Henry Snapp and Augustus F. Knox.

In 1877, on the formation of this judicial circuit, he was elected to fill the 

new seat on the bench. In 1878 he was elected for a term of six years, and 

remained on the bench until June, 1884, when, owing to poor health, he 

resigned.  During his earlier life he did much to promote the success of the 

Democratic party, and filled many positions of trust and responsibility within 

the gift of the same.  In 1861 he was selected as delegate to the 

constitutional committee which met in Springfield, and he took an important 

part in the matters before that body.  After the opening of the Civil war he 

affiliated with the Republican party.  His service as mayor of Joliet was most 

satisfactory and the city advanced under his able direction.  His influence was 

widely felt, both as attorney, jurist and private citizen.  In 1866 Judge 

Goodspeed erected a fine residence on South Chicago street, just south of 

Joliet.  This was at the time one of the finest houses in or near the city, and 

was provided with modern improvements, including hot and cold water and gas, 

the latter being furnished by his private gas plant.  Surrounding the house 

were fifteen acres of ground, forming an ideal homestead.  On the place Judge 

Goodspeed had a herd of fine Jersey cattle.  He invested considerably in farm 

property, and his widow still owns some farm land, but she now makes her home 

on Union street, occupying a  residence  which the judge purchased in 1885 and 

in which his death occurred April  10, 1889.   Mrs. Goodspeed was Frances 

Henderson, daughter of Dryden and Maria (Coe) Henderson, natives of Herkimer 

County, N. Y.  She was born in Steuben County, N. Y., and became the wife of 

Judge Goodspeed in 1864.  They were the parents of three sons: John C. (who 

died in October, 1883), Charles F. and Frederick.

Additional comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900


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