Gustave Johannes Friedrich Goedeking

     Gustave Johannes Friedrich Goedeking was born on 6 February 1864 at Westerkappeln, Osnabrück, Duchy of Westfalen.¹ He was the son of Johann Abraham Christian Georg Goedeking and Johanne Marie Wilhelmine Droop. Gustave Johannes Friedrich Goedeking married, at age 32, Wilhelmina Christine Remmert, age 32, daughter of Kasper Heinrich Remmert and Amalia Lehmann, on Friday, 6 November 1896 at Zion's Lutheran Church, Mount Olive, Macoupin County, Illinois.¹ Gustave Johannes Friedrich Goedeking died on 1 February 1943 at Saint Francis Hospital, Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois, at age 78 years, 11 months and 26 days.¹ He was buried on 4 February 1943 in the New Douglas Cemetery, located in New Douglas, Madison County, Illinois.¹
     He emigrated in 1885 from Germany first settling in Saint Louis, Missouri. From there he moved to New Douglas, Illinois in 1890.¹ He and Wilhelmina Christine Remmert appeared on the census of 5 June 1900 at New Douglas, Madison County, Illinois. Gustave Johannes Friedrich Goedeking and Wilhelmina Christine Remmert appeared on the census of 18 April 1910 at New Douglas, Madison County, Illinois. Gustave Johannes Friedrich Goedeking and Wilhelmina Christine Remmert appeared on the census of 5 February 1920 at New Douglas, Madison County, Illinois. His obituary was published on 2 February 1943 in the Edwardsville Intelligencer, printed in Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois. His obituary stated:

     New Douglas, Ill--Gustave John Goedeking, 78, died suddenly at 8:45 o'clock Monday night at the St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He had been in failing health for about a year but was able to be up until last Sunday. His condition grew worse Monday and that evening he was taken to the hospital where he died at 8:45.

     He was born in Westercappein [Westerkappeln], Germany, February 6, 1864 and at the time of his death had reached the age of 78 years, 11 months and 23 days. He came to America in 1885 and settled in St. Louis and from there went to New Douglas in 1890. He engaged in general merchandising when he went to New Douglas and followed that business until the time of his death. On November 6, 1897 he was married to Miss Wilhelmina Remmert. Mr. Goedeking was a member of the Immanuel-Lutheran church of New Douglas.

     Besides his wife he is survived by five children, Mrs. Samuel W. Ginsmore of Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. W. W. Prange of New Douglas, Rev. E. J. Goedeking of Marysville, Ohio, Melvin A. of Dayton, Ohio, and nine grandchildren.

     Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Immanuel Lutheran church with Rev. W. C. Liefeld officiating. Burial will be in the New Douglas Cemetery. The body will be at the Latowsky Funeral Home in New Douglas until time of the service.¹

A brief account for Gustave has been found in the "History of New Douglas, Illinois; 1860 - 2000." Originally published in 2000, Diane Donahue and Harold Ernst, editors helped to ensured that this bit of history would be saved for his descendants. The following account was found on page 128:

     Goedeking Store

     Gustav Goedeking came to America during the late 1880's and became a naturalized citizen in 1895. He worked as a waiter for a period in St. Louis, then worked at Simmons hardware in St. Louis. By the mid 1890's he was selling staple wares from the back of a wagon throughout the countryside. He married Wilhelmina Remmert November 8, 1896 and took up residence in New Douglas. Their home was on the west side of Main Street in the north part of the first block north of the railroad.

     Mr. Goedeking established himself in the general merchandise business with a store in the early 1900's. By 1907 he was pretty well established with a store to the south of the house. The store measured 50 X 60 feet. The main part had a second floor, the extra room to the south was referred to as the annex. Almost any kind of merchandise that was needed in that time could be found in the store. Heavy hardware such as bolts, nails, well chain, stove pipe were on the lower floor along with yardgoods, thread, shoes, canned goods and tobacco. The chewing tobacco had to be cut with a guillotine type cutter, later tailor made cigarettes were sold but only Chesterfield and Camels. A large glass case dsiplayed fragile items such as spectacles, combs and costume jewelry set on a counter. The upper floor was the location for shovels, rakes, hoes, axes and little red wagons. The wagons came KD - which is knocked down, they had to be assembled. Most of the hardware, came from E. C. Simmons Hardware Company St. Louis. The store he had worked at as a young man. Mr. Goedeking also bought eggs and they were counted and graded in the porch at the back of the store.

     Mr. Goedeking took a trip to return to his home land in Germany in 1914. He was gone approximately six to eight weeks. The war clouds were gathering and delayed his return trip to New Douglas. While he was gone, a 22 year old Otto Bartels operated the store. He stayed at the store sleeping on an upstairs cot.

     About 1920 the tavern and livery stable next door to the south of the store burned. Mr. Goedeking said that the store was saved by "Butch" Beckman standing on top of the store with a hose keeping things wetted down.

     The store was open on Saturdays until 8, to take advantage of the town full of people who came to town on Saturday nights to do their shopping, pick up the late mail and catch up on the latest news. It was somewhat of a social time for those in the rural area.

     Presumably the close proximity of the store to the railroad brought some business from an occasional traveler.

     Mr. and Mrs. Goedeking raised 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters. One son, Edward, became a Lutheran pastor and resided in Ohio. Daughter's Olga and Agnes both spent time teaching school in the area in their youth. Agnes married Walter Prange and lived her entire life nearly 98 years in New Douglas.²