John Goodall, Joab’s father, was about six years old when they arrived here from Tennessee. After his father Joab’s death in 1845, John moved into Marion and was sheriff of Williamson County from 1850 to 1852. John never quite forsook farming, though most of his life was spent in Marion, of which he may be regarded as one of the founders, in the successful conduct of a general merchandise business which he conducted until 1888, when he retired to accept the post mastership during the Cleveland administration. He held this position up to the time of his death in 1897. During his long life he was considered an important factor in the politics, business and progress of this part of the state.
In the 1880’s Goodall supported the development of the first telephone service in Marion. He served as President of the Ohio and Mississippi Valley Telephone Company until 1917 when the service was sold to the Murphysboro Telephone Company. Goodall built the first telephone office at 102 N. Liberty Street, the current location of the Verizon (GTE) building.
Joab Goodall, whose biography follows, was born at Marion March 4, 1858. He was educated in the public schools, and at Carbondale Normal (SINU), and on coming of age became associated with his father in business. This relation continued until his father’s retirement from mercantile pursuits in 1888 when Joab struck out for himself. Engaging in the purchase and sale of horses and mules, he soon became known as the most liberal and successful dealer in his line in Southern Illinois, and through him, Marion had the most extensive market in a radius of a hundred miles. Goodall became one of the most prominent stock dealers in this section of the country at the time.
Joab was an active member of the Williamson County Fair Association until his death.
His operations, and the assurance of a ready market at top prices, did much to encourage the farmers of this and adjoining counties in the breeding of fine stock, and foreign dealers looked to this section as a source of certain supply from year to year. Over 15,000 mules, mostly high grade and valued at upwards of $125,000 passed through his hands during the year 1904. Goodall sold many mules to the coal mines, farmers and the U.S. Army during WWI.
He utilized two large stock barns, one on North Market Street, with stabling for 75 or more head, and one just off the northwest corner of our public Square. The latter of brick, which was located in the 100 block of N. Van Buren St. was completed in the Spring of 1901, was 54 x 150 feet in dimensions, two stories in height, lighted and ventilated like a hotel and had stabling capacity of 150 head of horses and mules, with ample room for storage of hay, feed and grain. This building replaced the wooden livery stable belonging to Joab Gray which was built in 1855, but not by Gray.
Though regarding it as his vocation, Mr. Goodall did not confine himself to operations in livestock. As early as 1893, when owing to the efforts of A. F. White and other enterprising and public spirited citizens, attention was effectively directed to the immense coal fields of Williamson County, resulting in extension of the C. & E. I. railroad through the county and on to Thebes, and the, at first somewhat tentative, investment of capital looking to development of our mines.
Mr. Goodall set apart 40 acres of his 300 acre farm, lying immediately north of the line of the I. C. railroad tracks, and converted the same into what is known as Goodall’s First Addition to Marion. This was followed in 1895 by Goodall’s Second Addition, comprising 15 acres, and in 1898 by a Third of 20 acres; in June 1901, by a Fourth and Fifth of 15 and 5 acres, and culminating that year in a Sixth and Seventh, of 60 and of 8 acres, respectively. The whole, approximating 105 acres, was beautifully situated and indicates 300 building lots, averaging 80 x 167 ½ feet each. Many large and beautiful homes were constructed on this land surrounding N. Market St. making it one of the most attractive residential districts of Marion in it time.
The new Coal Belt Electric Railway in its course along North Market Street traversed these additions at nearly center, reaching Spillertown two miles to the north and the Marion business district. Later it reached the towns of Herrin and Carterville, making them easily accessible.
Going a step farther we find Mr. Goodall interested in Williamson county coal lands and their development. In this connection it is not too much to say he was an aid in important sales, such as those to J. W. Gates, the Illinois Steel Co. and the Leiters, involving great industrial possibilities in Marion.
Upon the organization of the Williamson County Savings Bank, on the 15th of January, 1903, Mr. Goodall was elected its first president, and at its annual meeting of the present year, all the officials were re-elected. Joab also served as Director for the First National Bank, the bank building that the Bank of Marion currently occupies on the square. As one of its largest stock holders, Goodall maintened the position of Vice President for several years preceding his death, roughly 1923-1930. At one time, Goodall held the position of Vice President for the Illinois Bankers Association for Group 10.
In 1901, Joab married Mamie Cobb and in 1902 they had their first son John C., followed by Charles C. in 1907. The 1907 city directories indicate they were living at 104 W. Main St. and that Joab was a stock dealer doing business at 105 N. Van Buren St. This would be his large brick stock barn, built in 1901. This building would be gutted in a fire in 1910 and decades later converted to Morrison Brother Oil Company. It would see its total destruction in another fire on June 25, 1951.
The 1910 census shows their address as 205 W. Main St., Joab is 51 and Mamie is 34. Their sons John are 8 and Charles 3. They have a 29 year old live in servant named Marney Gray who cooks for them and Joab is listed as a self-employed livestock dealer. Two years later they have their last child Mary in 1912.
By the 1920 census, Joab’s business had moved his family to Carbondale, Illinois. In this year, Joab had reached 62 and Mamie 44, John Cobb was 18, Charles 13 and Mary 8. According to city directories the family was living in Carbondale in 1922 and 1929.
In June of 1929, Goodall sold his home in Carbondale and he and his wife returned to Marion to live in an apartment in the home of George B. White at 600 S. Market St. In August of that year, Joab suffered a severe heart attack. Although he seemed to bounce back somewhat and was able to get out, he never quite fully recovered.
On April 3, 1930 Joab died in his apartment on S. Market St. in Marion at the age of 72 and was buried two days later at Rose Hill cemetery.
(Joab Goodall Obituary; Data from the 1905 Souvenir Book, WCHS; Pioneer Folks and Places by Barbara Barr Hubbs; Federal Census Records; City directories; Ancestry.com and IRAD; photos from Souvenir Book, Williamson County Historical Society;maps from Ancestry.com; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 01/18/2013)