Goette, Hon. Sidonius Jr.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Hon. Sidonius Goette Jr., mayor of Donaldsonville, La., was commissioned by Gov. Francis T. Nicholls. He was born in the city in which he now resides September 15,1859, son of Sidonius Goette Sr., who was born in Baden, Germany, and came to the United States in 1849, first locating in New Orleans and afterward in Donaldsonville, where he followed the trade of a shoemaker, at which he had served an apprenticeship in his native land. While still residing there he served in the Baden army, and was a participant in a number of battles when that country was at war with Prussia. He has been connected with the shoe trade ever since locating in Donaldsonville, of which place he is considered one of the strictly honorable and reliable business men. He was married in New Orleans to Miss Magdaline Yaeger, a native of Baden, Germany, their union being blessed in the birth of a large family, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the six that survive. August is the next in order of birth, and is a member of the shoe firm of S. Goette & Sons; Henry is a coppersmith by trade, and is a sugar manufacturer of more than ordinary ability; three daughters are also living. Hon. S. Goette Jr., was given the advantages of the schools of Donaldsonville, and at the age of fourteen years began learning the shoemaker's trade which has since been his chief occupation. He has been the manager of the firm of S. Goette & Sons, and by business tact and energy he has built up one of the largest shoe trades in the state. The establishment is well fitted up and well stocked with a choice assortment of boots and shoes, which goods are unrivaled for durability, fit, elegance and comfort, and are offered to patrons at extremely moderate prices. Mr. Goette is highly esteemed by the community for his integrity and promptness, and is especially fitted for managing this important business. He has also manifested much interest in the political affairs of his section, and in 1885 was elected to the position of alderman of Donaldsonville, in which capacity he served that year, declining re-election. In 1888 he was again elected, re-elected in 1889 and 1890, serving as mayor pro tern. In the last mentioned year he was unanimously chosen mayor, and is now serving his second term in that responsible position. He found the town in serious difficulty, financially, upon entering upon his duties, and in order to better this condition of affairs he has generously donated the salary he should receive to the town, and has made many improvements in other ways--the water works have been put in operation, a wharf and sidewalks have been built, and, in all probability, the best market in the state, outside of New Orleans, has been erected. He has been a member of Phoenix Steam Fire company No. 1 for some time, acting in the capacity of president of the company several terms, and he has been the efficient manager of Phoenix Opera house for many years. He has been chiefly instrumental in bringing that organization safely through serious financial straits, and has provided Donaldsonville with one of the neatest little theaters in the state. Mr. Goette is not only in the front rank of Donaldsonville's best citizens, but as an enterprising citizen of the town he takes the front rank, or rather heads the procession. He has manifested his approval of secret organizations by joining Mount Moriah lodge No. 59, F. & A. M., of New Orleans, La.; Donaldsonville lodge No. 2639, K. of H., of which he is past dictator, and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the state, and Lee lodge No. 6, A. 0. U. W., of which he is past master workman, and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of Texas. He is also a member of Ascension council No. 836, American Legion of Honor, in which he is past commander and representative to Grand Council, and Kenneth lodge No. 41, K. of P., and was instrumental in rechartering that lodge at Donaldsonville.

He has always supported the principles of democracy, is true to his convictions, and is a man whom to know is to respect. He was recently elected president and manager of the Donaldsonville Ice company, also a director of the Donaldsonville bank, and in other ways he has shown himself to be public spirited and enterprising. November 22, 1882, he was married to Miss Kate Wild, sister of Louis J. Wild, a well-known resident of Donaldsonville. To this union four children have been born; two of whom are living, a son and a daughter.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 1), p. 448. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.