Henry Thomas Goddard, banker and Marion alderman was born on the 20th of June, 1852, at Marion, in Williamson County, Illinois, the son of James T. and Winifred (Spiller) Goddard. Henry’s father, James, was born in Franklin County, Virginia, in 1818, and his mother was a native of Williamson County, Illinois. Winifred Goddard was a daughter of William and Winifred (Benson) Spiller, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, having been born in Robertson County in that state.
The ancestral Goddard’s came to Illinois and were among the first settlers of Williamson County. James T. Goddard and his wife lived for a time in Bainbridge, Williamson County, Illinois, where he was engaged in the mercantile business, then coming to Marion, Illinois, and continued in the same business.
The more remote ancestors of Henry T. Goddard were Scotch-Irish, his forebears having emigrated from Scotland first to Cork in Ireland, and then to the United States. His grandfather, James Goddard, was a native of Virginia, and served in a Virginian regiment during the War of 1812. He later moved to Williamson County, Illinois, where he died. His wife, Maria (Davis-McHaney) Goddard, was a second cousin of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, and was an aunt of General John T. Davis.
Henry T. Goddard’s education was obtained in the Marion schools, and then he was sent to the Normal University at Normal, Illinois, and later to Notre Dame University, at Notre Dame, Indiana. Upon leaving school he went to work in his brother-in-law’s dry goods store at Marion, and as soon as opportunity offered he entered the banking business, for he always felt an inclination in this direction. He was connected with the Exchange Bank in Marion for ten years, learning the business from the ground up. Therefore, when he left Marion in 1890 to accept the position of cashier of the First National Bank of Mt. Carmel, he was thoroughly prepared.
The work there was even harder than is that of the average cashier’s, for the bank had just been organized, and the responsibility for much of its initial success rested upon Henry T. Goddard. How well he filled his position is shown by the fact that in February, 1904, he was elected president and held that post for several years. His judgment on financial matters was highly respected, and he had proven that he had powers of organization and executive ability above the average. He was president of the Bank of Wayne City, at Wayne City, Illinois, and chairman of Group 9, of the Illinois Bankers’ Association.
As to his public offices, H. T. Goddard served as city treasurer, as alderman, and as a member of the board of education in the town of Marion. He was also a member of the board of trustees of the Southern Illinois Normal University, at Carbondale, Illinois. Fraternally, Mr. Goddard was a member of the Masonic order, of the Elks and of the Knights of Pythias. For several years he served as district deputy grand master of the Masons and was a member of the committee on mileage and per diem of the Grand Lodge.
In the 1860 census Henry’s parents, James T. Goddard and Winifred had five children at home: James Monroe, 18; W.S., 14; Julia A., 10; Henry Thomas, 6 and Leroy A. Goddard, 4. Mary Chaniel, a domestic servant, also lived with them. James T. was a merchant with real estate valued at $25,000 ($700,000 in 2014) and personal property valued at $100,000 (over $2,500,000 in 2014 dollars). Henry’s brother, James Monroe, was also a merchant with a real estate value of $1,800 and a personal property value of $250. Even younger brother, W. S. Goddard, 14, had personal property valued at $10.
In 1870, Henry was living with his brother Monroe who was a merchant, his father, James T. Goddard having become significantly impaired by mental illness. Henry was 18 years old, had no occupation and was probably a student at that time.
The marriage of Henry T. Goddard to Mary Eleanor Houts, daughter of Christopher J. and Mary J. Houts, took place at Marion, Illinois, on the 4th of September, 1873. She was born on September 6, 1850 in Hannibal, Missouri. Her father, C. J. Houts, was a pioneer Methodist minister of Illinois and Missouri; his ministry extending over a period of forty-seven years. His wife was Mary Jane Randle, who was a descendant of the famous Randolph family of Virginia.
In 1877, Henry served as alderman and also City Treasurer under Mayor James C. Jackson. Other aldermen that year were: M. W. Barham, Charles M. Edwards, James L. Adams, W. H. Howell and Francis M. Sparks.
The Marion Building & Loan Association was incorporated in March, 1887, with a capital stock of $50,000. The charter officers were Leroy A. Goddard, president and Henry’s brother, and Henry himself served as Treasurer.
In 1892 a permit was issued to H. T. and others to organize the Wabash Savings Bank of Mt. Carmel, with a capital stock of $35,000 ($1,010,000 in 2013 currency.)
In 1900, Henry was 48 and Mary was 49, only Lucille and Henry were at home with their parents in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Henry T. was a cashier and Lucille was an assistant cashier. In 1908 Henry was Vice President of the Southern Illinois Banker’s Association.
Banking appeared to run in the Goddard family. At John B. Bainbridge’s Marion funeral in 1910, which Henry attended, there were 6 bankers among the brothers, brothers-in-law and children.
Henry’s wife, Mary E. Goddard, died on December 16, 1917, in Mt Carmel, Illinois. Mary, like her husband, took a keen interest in public affairs, and was a prominent figure in charity, club, social and fraternal affairs. She was past grand matron of the Order of the Eastern Star of Illinois, was a member of the State Board of Charities, was actively connected with the Reviewers Matinee, a local literary and civic improvement club, and was president of the Woman’s Club of Mt. Carmel.
By the 1930 census, 77 year old Henry T. was living with his daughter Lucille and her husband Charles H. Roberts.
Henry T. died in Mt. Carmel, Wabash County, Illinois on April 17, 1930.
Both Mary and Henry were returned to Marion after their deaths for burial in Rose Hill Cemetery.
At the close of WWI in 1919, Henry’s banker brother and ex Marion Mayor, Leroy A. Goddard, donated the beautiful Goddard Chapel which stands in Old Rose Hill Cemetery as a tribute to fallen WWI soldiers. Today the chapel is one of five buildings in Marion that are on the Registry of Historic Places.
Notes on the Children:
Lora Houts Goddard was born July 22, 1874. She married 1) Elsa Stinson Davis in March of 1898 and 2) William James Shaw. In 1910 Lora was divorced and living with her parents. She died Nov. 20, 1963.
Lucille Houts Goddard Roberts was born May 1876. She married Charles Henry Roberts. They had a son Henry G. Roberts. Charles was a jeweler in his own jewelry store.
Roy Houts Goddard was born Apr 21, 1878. He married Bessie Marshall; they had one son, Marshall. They lived in Evanston, Illlinois. He was a jobber for a wholesale grocery.
Henry Houts Goddard was born in April 1889. He married Maud Jacqueline Abbott. They had one daughter, Winifred. In 1910 he was an assistant cashier in the bank in Mt. Carmel. In 1930 he was an oil broker in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They were still living there at the time of the 1940 census. He had not worked in the previous year but he had his own income.
(Sources: Federal Census Records; compiled by Colleen Norman)