Milo Erwin, in his History of Williamson County, described George W. Goddard thusly, “George W. Goddard is a lawyer and politician of the old stripe and fashion—too honest for modern politics. He is a War Democrat, and was Captain of Company C, Thirty First Regiment Illinois Volunteers. In the army he was a brave and respected soldier. He has been Circuit Clerk, and is now Mayor of Marion, and is one of those men “in whom the elements are so happily united that Nature can stand up and say to all the world, this is a man.”

Born in Illinois in 1826, he married Eliza Trammel on June 23, 1846. In the 1850 census, he was listed as a farmer 24, with wife Eliza 22, daughter Sarah 2 and son Thomas 4 months old. Real estate valued at $200. From 1856 thru 1861 he served as circuit clerk for Williamson County and also served as State’s Attorney for the county as well as a practicing lawyer. In 1860 he was Master of Marion Masonic Lodge #89.  In the 1860 census while he was serving as circuit clerk he and his wife Eliza had four children, Sarah 12, Thomas 10, Priestley A. 8, Douglas 5 and Robert J. 3. He claimed his real estate value at $4,000 and personal estate at $3,000. In 1862 his wife Eliza passed away at 34 years old and was buried at Aikman Cemetery.

With the advent of the Civil War there was much southern sympathy in the county. Not unexpected, since most citizens living here were transplants from southern states. In April 1862, it all began to come to an explosive head when a resolution to secede from the Union was drawn up by local residents. Out of the tumult, it was resolved by John Logan, George Goddard, John White and John Cunningham to show support for the Union by forming a regiment of volunteers from the surrounding counties. On the 13^th day of September 1862, the 31^st Illinois Infantry Regiment Volunteers was formed with Logan as their Colonel and Goddard as Captain. The regiment served heroically and faithfully thru the war and was mustered out of duty July 19, 1865. Goddard was discharged out of duty on October 19, 1864.

On July 16, 1867 George married Sarah Barron from Indiana. In the 1870 census, George now 44 and his new wife Sarah 28 have children William 18 and Douglas 15 from his previous marriage plus an additional daughter Julia born in 1869 with his new wife. George’s occupation is lawyer and he claims a real estate value of only $1,000 and personal value of $20. There must be more to this story untold.

He was President of the Marion Board of Trustees from 1869-1872 and then served as Mayor in 1876. In the 1880 census George is now 54, his wife Sarah 38, with children Julia 11, Pauline 5 and Anna 2,  all from his second wife. He is a lawyer and no real estate values were revealed.  

On the 17^th of August 1882, George W. Goddard died and was buried at the Old Marion Cemetery with military honors and a proper military marker. He was later reinterred and moved to Old Rose Hill Cemetery where he rests today.

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(Excerpted and extracted from the following sources: History of Williamson County, Milo Erwin, Pioneer Folks and Places, Barbara Barr Hubbs, 1905 Souvenir Book, WCHS, Federal Census Records and Findagrave.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 12/11/2012)