Paul Goddard

(Taken from a 1944 memorial article on his death, edited for clarity)

Washington lost one of its most respected citizens at 10:30 o'clock Saturday night when death claimed Paul R. Goddard, editor of the Tazewell County Reporter and of previous papers for the past 45 years. 

Mr. Goddard, 79, passed away at his home here after an illness of over nine months. He had undergone a series of operations and had spent much of the past few months in the St. Francis Hospital in Peoria. He returned home here on New Year's Day and, over the next few months, partially regained his health. He was again taken to the hospital in April, returning to his home in May, where everything possible was done for him, but the end came peacefully Saturday evening.

Paul Rawson Goddard was born on the old Harmon farm home place in Wheatland, Monroe County, New York, on April 4, 1865. He passed from this life July 8, 1944, at the age of 79 years, three months, and four days. He was the son of Theodore and Antoinette Harmon Goddard. In 1870, the family moved to Iowa, first spending some time at State Center and then going by covered wagon to Hastings, where his father had been appointed land agent for the C. B. & Q. railroad while it was being extended west from Chicago. The family made their home there until 1881, then moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. Later moves took them back to Iowa, to California, to Chicago, to Champaign, to Watseka, and, finally, in 1899, Mr. Goddard, with his mother, moved to Washington, which has since been his home. His father died in Los Angeles on September 12, 1885, and his mother preceded him in death in Washington on February 7, 1921.

Mr. Goddard received his early education in the schools of Hastings, Ia., and later entered the newspaper business, which, with his love of reading, completed his education. 

Mr. Goddard was the second of three sons. Walter of East Peoria died in June 1939, and Horace of Chicago was killed in an automobile wreck in Pennsylvania in November 1936.

On July 16, 1902, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Andrews of Washington, and their entire married life has been spent in Washington, with the exception of 15 winters, which they spent in Florida. 

Mr. Goddard attended the Christian Science church of Peoria for many years and was a devout believer in Science. He was a member of Taylor Lodge of Masons, a former member of the Masonic Chapter, the Peoria Consistory, and Shrine.

Outstanding Editor

The newspaper experiences of Paul R. Goddard have many interesting highlights. He began his printing career at 15 in Hastings, Iowa, working as a printer's "devil" for 50 cents per week. All of his life, the newspaper and printing business has been foremost in his mind, and regardless of other business interests he had, the newspaper always came first. Any thought of people going into any other business, if they had the least possibility in the newspaper business, was almost a crime in his mind.

That he was successful in his chosen field is attested by the many high offices that he has held in various press associations. For many years, he was a member of the executive committee of the Illinois Press Association, served three years as vice president, and then one year as president. In 1928, Mr. Goddard was named a member of the executive committee of the National Editorial Association, and the following year was elected as director of the National Association. On May 3, 1921, he was elected to membership in the Press Congress of the World, and his name was inscribed on a plaque in the Editor's Hall of Fame at the University of Illinois.

In 1919, Mr. Goddard helped organize the Peoria District Press Association and was named its first president, then re-elected for another two years. He also helped organize the Tazewell County Press Association and served as its first president.

Many were his experiences in the early printing business, which are recorded in "My Life Story," which was written for his children and grandchildren and published in 1937.

Eleven trips were taken by Mr. and Mrs. Goddard with the National Editorial Association, and they were sources of great pleasure and information to them. These trips covered the entire United States as well as Mexico, Canada and Cuba

For some time, Mr. Goddard operated the Sioux Falls Daily Argus-Leader and in 1889 established the Daily Capital at Pierre, S. D., just after the state of Dakota was divided into two states. He ran the daily capital during the time the fight was on as to where the state capital would be located.

Another interesting highlight in the life of Mr. Goddard was the proving up of a claim on an island in the Mississippi River. He and his mother lived in a two-room cabin during the time that the claim was being proved on the island and had to cross a pontoon bridge each day to get back and forth from Pierre.

Purchased Washington Paper

In 1899, while working on the Champaign daily paper, Mr. Goddard came to Washington and purchased one-half interest in the Washington Post, later buying the other half. In 1905, he started a paper in East Peoria, and a plant was established there, which continued until 1909. That same year, a disastrous fire broke out at the Post plant, and practically everything was destroyed. Soon after, a deal was completed to purchase the Washington News. The News, a republican paper, and the Post, a democratic paper, were both published from the same plant. The Roanoke Post was also published from the Washington plant during that time. In 1912, the Post and News were consolidated into a single paper. In 1916, the Tazewell County Republican was started for the late A. H. Heiple, former postmaster and publisher of the News, and in 1917 it was consolidated with the Post and News under the name of the Tazewell County Reporter.

In 1906, Mr. Goddard and Theodore Roehm published the booklet "Picturesque Washington," and many copies of the book are still in Washington homes.

In 1924, the Reporter was sold to Sam Crabtree, and in 1926, the Illinois Valley Herald, a weekly newspaper for Peoria, was started. It lasted only a few months, and expensive printing equipment had been installed in the Washington plant to print the new paper. Because of his association with the newspaper, Mr. Goddard assumed the company's indebtedness, although not personally liable for it, and paid it off. It was at that time that the present owner, E.G. Kilby, came to Washington and began working in the Newspaper office. In 1928, several other smaller papers were purchased to keep the plant busy, and at one time, seven weekly newspapers were published from the Washington office. In 1939, Mr. Goddard retired from active management of the company and sold his stock to Mr. Kilby, who later dissolved the corporation. 

Mr. Goddard continued in an editorial capacity since that time, and each week, no matter whether he was in Florida or Illinois, his column, "Gossip By The Editor," appeared in the Reporter. For two or three weeks last winter, when he was seriously ill, he missed his column, and his last editorials appeared in the reporter in the June 22 issue. Although his last serious illness prevented him from writing or dictating his column, he was interested in the paper and the most anxious person in Washington to see the Reporter as soon as it was off the press.

In addition to writing for the Reporter, Mr. Goddard was a frequent contributor to National trade magazines and was often asked to write articles on various aspects of the newspaper business for press magazines.

While in the insurance business, he was also the founder and editor of the National Insurance Journal, and it built up quite a circulation.

Other Business Interests

While his first and greatest love in business was the newspaper, Mr. Goddard had also been active in many other business institutions of the city. At one time, he, with the late E. Garber and George Myers, purchased the telephone company. It was later sold to Mr. Myers. Another deal was the purchase of the Portman property of 120 acres with E. Garber, Theodore Roehm, and G. R. Johnson. The addition was laid out into lots and is now known as the Highland Park addition.

In 1914, with C. J. Alyea of El Paso, the Belt Auto Insurance Company was organized, with its headquarters in El Paso. Mr. Goddard later sold his interest in that company to Mr. Alyea and organized the Bull Dog Auto Insurance Company of Washington. Theodore Roehm was his partner in this enterprise, and it prospered for many years. It grew to be one of the largest reciprocal exchanges in the United States. In 1927, the insurance was transferred to the Washington Insurance Exchange and later sold to the Suburban Auto Insurance Company of Desplaines, Ill.

Other activities included serving as president and secretary of the Washington Commercial Club and as president of the Farmer Kiwanis Club. Me. Goddard also helped organize the Washington Building and Loan Association and served as secretary for two years. He also served a two-year term as township clerk.

Political Activities

For a number of years, Mr. Goddard was a member of the Tazewell County democratic central committee,where he served as a member of the executive committee.

He was always affiliated with the Democratic Party, but did not let the party interfere with his support for a friend. In the 1928 campaign, he actively supported the late Governor Len Small in his re-election bid. He was bitterly assailed by some of his democratic friends, and the late Governor Horner rebuked him in his speech when he appeared here in Washington during the campaign. However, Mr. Goddard was undaunted in his support of a friend and remained loyal to ex-governor Small.

Although he was an active Democrat, he always supported the party in power. He had his personal favorite, but he was never bitter at the party, which happened to be in the office, and he would support them through the paper. An ardent admirer of President Roosevelt, he also had unlimited respect for Governor Dwight Green. He was one of the earliest supporters of Congressman Dirksen for president. A number of years ago, even before Congressman Dirksen was ever mentioned as being of presidential caliber, Mr. Goddard praised him and suggested in his editorial column that the congressman should be given serious consideration for our highest office.

True to Washington

In his 45 years here as editor and businessman, the city of Washington never had a more ardent admirer. He extolled the virtues of the city, and with but few exceptions, his editorial column contained the phrase, "Washington is a good place to live and make your home."

In his dealings with people, he was always fair, never criticized, and never could see anything wrong with the younger generation.

Until the last few days of his illness, when he was in a coma, Washington had been good to him and was the greatest place on earth. His is a well-deserved rest---but leaves a place that can not be filled.