Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Goodspeed, Judge Francis 
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Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

Judge Francis Goodspeed, who in the profession of law conferred honor upon the 
judicial history of northern Illinois, became one of the early members of the 
Joliet bar and throughout the years of his connection therewith maintained a 
foremost place in its ranks. The legal profession demands not only a high 
order of ability but a rare combination of tact, learning, talent, patience 
and industry. The successful lawyer and the competent judge must be a man of 
well balanced intellect, thoroughly familiar with the law and practice, of 
comprehensive general information, possessed of an analytical mind and a self-
control that will enable him to lose his individuality, his personal feelings, 
his prejudices and his peculiarities of disposition in the dignity, 
impartiality and equity of the office to which life, property, right and 
liberty must look for protection. Possessing those qualities, Judge Goodspeed 
justly merited the high honor which was conferred upon him by his elevation to 
the bench and for seven years he capably presided over the circuit courts 
until ill health caused his resignation. Born in Deerfield, Tioga county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 25th of January, 1821, he was a son of John Goodspeed, a 
merchant. His early education was afforded by the common schools, but 
ambitious for further intellectual culture he left home and for two years was 
a student in Genesee Seminary at Lima, New York, then a famous institution of 
learning in the east. About the year 1847 he came to Joliet, where he resided 
continuously until his death. He was one of the pioneer lawyers of the city, 
being admitted to the bar in 1848 after pursuing the study of law in the 
office and under the direction of Hon. Hugh Henderson, a former circuit judge. 
Soon after entering upon active practice Judge Goodspeed became a law partner 
of O. H. Haven and this association was maintained until the death of Mr. 
Haven in 1854. For a brief period Judge Goodspeed was then associated with 
Colonel F. A. Bartleson and about 1856 he formed a partnership with Hon. 
Josiah McRoberts, afterward circuit judge. The dissolution of this firm 
occurred in 1864 and in 1865 Judge Goodspeed formed a partnership with Hon. 
Henry Snapp and Augustus F. Knox, thus practicing until 1876. When the present 
judicial circuit was established in 1877 he was elected to the bench and in 
1878 was reelected for the full term of six years. He served in that capacity 
until June, 1888, when owing to poor health he resigned. His legal learning, 
his analytical mind, the readiness with which he grasped the points in an 
argument, all combined to make him one of the most capable jurists that has 
ever presided over that court and the public and the profession acknowledged 
him the peer of the ablest members of the bar in this portion of the state. 
Judge Goodspeed attained equal prominence in public life and left the impress 
of his individuality upon public thought and action. He did much to mold 
public opinion and shape the policy of the city at an important crisis in the 
history of the country wdien men of known loyalty and ability were needed in 
all public offices because of the excitable conditions prevalent at the time 
he was elected and served as mayor, filling the office in 1859 and 1860 and 
giving a public-spirited administration. In 1861 he was elected as a delegate 
to the constitutional convention, participated in the debates of that body at 
Springfield and took an active part in framing the organic law of the state. 
His stalwart democracy was unquestioned and yet he never placed partisanship 
before the general good and personal aggrandizement was always made 
subservient to his devotion to the welfare of county, state and nation. After 
the opening of the Civil war, when new issues arose, he transferred his 
allegiance to the republican party, which stood loyally by the government in 
the darkest hour of our country's history. Judge Goodspeed was married three 
times. In 1849 he wedded Mrs. Esther Wetherbee, who died the following month, 
and in 1854 he married Lucretia Knox, whose death occurred in 1864. In 1867 he 
was united to Frances Henderson, a daughter of Dryden and Maria (Coe) 
Henderson, who were natives of Herkimer county, New York. Mrs. Goodspeed was 
born in Steuben county, New York, and still survives her husband. By his 
second marriage there were three sons but John, the eldest, who prepared for 
the practice of medicine, died in October, 1883, while Charles F. and 
Frederick are still living in Joliet. In 1866 Judge Goodspeed erected a fine 
residence on South Chicago street just south of Joliet. At that time it was 
one of the finest homes in or near the city and was provided with many 
improvements in advance of those usually seen in the dwellings of that period. 
The house was surrounded by fifteen acres of ground and everything about the 
place showed indicaton of most thorough care and development. Upon his place 
Judge Goodspeed had a herd of fine Jersey cattle. He also owned considerable 
farm property elsewhere in the county and Mrs. Goodspeed still retains some of 
this in her possession. Becoming a member of the bar when its representatives 
in Will county were few in number, Judge Goodspeed ever maintained a foremost 
position in the ranks of the legal fraternity of northern Illinois. A 
contemporary biographer said of him, "He was a man of strong mental powers, 
entirely engrossed in the practice of his profession, which he loved and 
followed constantly as lawyer and judge for nearly forty years. In all the 
community no man stood higher in the confidence and respect of his fellow 
citizens and no man more thoroughly deserved this confidence. Among the older 
residents of Joliet to say Frank Goodspeed said so was to carry conviction. He 
was a man strong in his views yet of most sympathetic nature. He had the 
greatest appreciation for true worth of character and no sympathy whatever 
with the manifestation of a lack of truth or high principles. The honors which 
came to him in connection with the framing and the execution of the laws of 
the state marked the high consideration which his fellowmen entertained for 
his integrity, dignity, impartiality and love of justice as shown in both his 
private life and official career. He was a man of excellent traits of 
character, brave and manly, sincere and outspoken, gentle in manner, yet firm 
in the discharge of his duty. He gained a high place in his profession by hard 
work and by evidencing his ability to fill the positions with which the people 
entrusted him. Mrs. Goodspeed still resides at the old home at No. 125 Union 
street. There lives with her Mrs. Azubah (Cameron) Smith and her daughter, 
Mrs. Benham, and the latter's family. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Goodspeed were 
schoolmates in Steuben county, New York. The former is the widow of Seneca S. 
Smith, who was a lumber dealer of Bath, New York, where his death occurred. 
Mrs. Smith's daughter Mabel is the wife of Harry H. Benham, who is employed in 
the Jensen store in Joliet, and they have five children: Charles G., Margaret, 
Charlotte, Mabel and Smith. In addition to valuable city property Mrs. 
Goodspeed owns much fine farming land in this county together with the 
residence which she occupies on Union street. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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