William Goebel was born on January 4, 1856, in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of the four children of William Goebel, a cabinetmaker, and his wife, Augusta Greenaclay, both of whom were natives of Germany.
The Goebel family removed to Kentucky about 1863 and settled in Covington.
After attending the public schools in Covington, William took a course in the Hollingsworth Business College. His father then apprenticed him to a Cincinnati jeweler, but he shortly abandoned this trade and began the study of law with former Gov. John W. Stephenson in Covington, but after a few months entered the Cincinnati Law School where he was graduated in 1877.
After his graduation from law school, he enrolled as a special student at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, but the death of His father forced him, after two months, to withdraw in order to support the family.
William practiced law independently for a few years, was for five years a partner of John G. Carlisle, then entered the law firm of Stephenson and remained a member of it until the death of the latter.
Goebel’s political career began in 1887 when he was elected as a Democrat to the Kentucky Senate from Kenton County. To this position, he was reelected four times in succession, serving continuously until his nomination for governor in 1899.
During the entire period of his legislative service, he encountered bitter opposition within his own party. This political animosity resulted, among other things, in his killing John Sandford, a prominent banker, and politician, in Covington in April 1895.
On his examining trial he pleaded self-defense and was released, the grand jury subsequently refusing to indict him. He was also the sponsor of the Goebel Election Law of 1898 which was bitterly denounced.
Goebel was shot by an assassin, January 30, 1900, but before his death, the legislature declared him legally elected governor.
His death brought Kentucky to the verge of civil war, but in the end, quiet was restored and the lieutenant-governor, J. C. W. Beckham, took office.
Goebel is known as one of the most controversial politicians in his state's history, he served as Governor for four days in 1900. He remains the only Governor in the US who was assassinated while in office. His long service in the Senate made him an influential force in Kentucky legislation. Goebel Avenue in Elkton, Kentucky and Goebel Park in Covington, Kentucky are named in honor of the late governor.
In 1899, William was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor and secured the nomination in the Louisville convention by a series of shrewd political maneuvers which greatly increased the number of his enemies and divided his party.
The resulting campaign was probably the most exciting in the history of the state, and resulted in the election, on the face of the returns, of his Republican opponent, William S. Taylor, by a small majority.
Goebel charged fraud and contested the election before the legislature which was Democratic in both branches.
William identified himself with the reform element and is generally credited with the passing of much of the reform legislation of the period, particularly that relating to taxation and the regulation of railroads.
In the latter connection, he aroused the enmity of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.
Goebel was not an orator but had a talent for vituperation and biting speech.
He was taciturn and reserved and had practically no intimate friends outside his own family. He owed his success to unusual skill as a politician and to the courage that seemed to have no limit.
His integrity was questioned by his opponents but no one doubted his success as an organizer. He probably inspired a greater amount of loyalty in his supporters and of personal hatred on the part of his opponents than any other figure in Kentucky politics.
Goebel never married.
