Peter William Goebel, president of the Commercial National Bank of Kansas City, Kan., and also identified with the operations of numerous other commercial enterprises, is a man of excellent business discernment and ability, who has won recognition of his fidelity and enterprise in the business world until through successive promotions he has gained a prominent place in the financial circles of Kansas. Mr. Goebel is a native of the village of Langhecke, province of Hesse, Nassau, Prussia, Germany, where he was born, March 18, 1859. His father, Peter Goebel, who was in the forestry service of the German government, never came to the United States but died in his native land, April 20, 1882. The mother of Mr. Goebel before her marriage was Anna Mary Mueller. She came to the United States, in 1884, her object being to reside near her children, five of whom had already made their homes in the United States. Two other younger children came with the mother, making seven in all who came to the New World. Of these six are yet living: Ferdinand S. of Kansas City, Kan.; Joseph L. of Louisburg, Kan.; Mrs. Catharine Bruehl of Sandwich, Ill.; Mrs. Margaret Vohs of Bucyrtis, Kan.; Mrs. Mary Legner of Louisburg, Kan.; and Peter William. One other brother, Christian, resides in Germany and is there engaged in the forestry service of the German government. The mother died at Louisburg, Kan., Nov. 14, 1909.

Peter W. Goebel of this review was reared to the age of fourteen in his native German village. At that age he came to the United States, whither two of his sisters had already come, and first stopped a few months at Plano, Ill., where one of his sisters lived. It was in January, 1873, that he crossed the ocean and, in June, 1873, he came to Kansas and located in Miami county, where for one year he worked as a farm hand. Being anxious, however, to learn the English language, he went to Paola, in the same county, where for one year and a half he did the housework of a priest and took care of his church in return for instruction the priest gave him in English studies. Later he spent a few months in St. Louis, Mo., but in the fall of 1875 he returned to Louisburg, where he resided until 1905. For a few years he conducted a drug store there but later he turned his attention to the banking business, in which he has been successfully engaged to the present time. From 1882 to 1900 he was cashier of the Bank of Louisburg. In 1897 he became one of the organizers of the Commercial State Bank of Kansas City, Kan., and has been president of it, and its successor, the Commercial National Bank, ever since its organization. In 1905 he removed his family from Louisburg to Paola, and since that date has been vice-president of the Miami County National Bank. It will be seen that Mr. Goebel is now president of one bank, vice-president of another, and besides is still a director of the Bank of Louisburg. He is also president of the Citizens' State Savings Bank and the Kansas Trust Company, both of Kansas City, Kan.

On Aug. 2, 1777, occurred the marriage of Mr. Goebel and Miss Mary Shaw, a native of Miami county, Kansas. They have five children living: Eugene W.; Anthony Frank; Mary; Rose, who is Mrs. E. J. Bannon; and Joseph P. The last two named are twins. In 1907 Mr. Goebel removed his family from Paola to Kansas City, Kan., where they now reside.

He was a Democrat until the last four or five years, since which time he has generally voted the Republican ticket. He was a member of the Kansas house of representatives from 1903 to 1905, representing Miami county, and held several other minor offices while a resident of that county. In religion he is a Roman Catholic. He was one of the organizers of the Osage Fire Insurance Company of Topeka, and is now chairman of its board of directors. He is also a director of the Bankers' Deposit Guaranty and Surety Company of Topeka, is a member of the Mercantile Club of Kansas City, Kan., and is an ex-president of the Kansas State Bankers' Association. Mr. Goebel is a fine example of a self-made man, who with worthy ambitions and a strong character, has attained a great measure of success.