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GEORGE A. GODDARD. An excellent representative of the teaching force of Johnson county, George A. Goddard, principal of the Goreville schools, is widely and favorably known in educational circles as a progressive and capable instructor, who has won success in his professional career through his own merits. A son of Francis M. Goddard, he was born July 5, 1877, on a Union county farm, of pioneer stock. His grandfather, George Goddard, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Southern Illinois in early days and settled in Union county as a pioneer farmer.
Francis M. Goddard was born and brought up in Union county, Illinois, being reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1893 he moved with his
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family to Texas, where he resided four years. Returning to Illinois in 1897, he purchased eighty acres of land in Johnson county, one and one-half miles northeast of Goreville, and has since devoted his time and energies to the improvement of his property, his farm being under a good state of cultivation. He married Martha A. Gurley, and to them six children have been born, one of whom, Edgar, died in infancy, and five are living, as follows: George A., the subject of this sketch; John W.; Oscar M.; Leva; and Leona.
Acquiring the rudiments of his education in the rural schools of Union county, Illinois, George A. Goddard subsequently lived in Texas four years, and while there attended the high school at Howe. He completed his early studies at the Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, and with the exception of a year spent as a merchant in Buncombe, Johnson county, has been engaged in teaching since 1897, during the entire time having taught in Johnson county. For six years Mr. Goddard taught in the Salem district, and in 1905 and 1906 had charge of the Buncombe consolidated schools, Buncombe having been the second town in Illinois to adopt the progressive course of consolidating its schools. In 1907 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in 1908 and 1909 was principal of the schools in Cypress. In 1910 Professor Goddard accepted his present position as principal of the Goreville schools, and has since served in a most creditable manner. These schools have an enrollment of one hundred and ninety pupils, and employ four teachers, who take the scholars through the grammar grades and through the first two grades of high school, their work being thorough in every respect.
Mr. Goddard married, in 1908, Esther Goddard, daughter of William and Fannie (Sturdevant) Goddard, of Buncombe. Since 1897 Mr. Goddard has been a resident of Buncombe, and a citizen of prominence. He is much interested in agriculture, having charge of a farm of one hundred and thirty acres lying near Buncombe, and likewise having title to four hundred and forty acres of timber land in Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Goddard have one child, Walter Owen Goddard. Fraternally the Professor is a member of Banner Camp. No. 8366, Modern Woodmen, of America, at Buncombe; and of Goreville Lodge, No. 797, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Goreville. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.