Arthur Jay Goodge was born June 25, 1880, in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, the son of Frank P. Goodge and Jane Agnes Busch.
He came to Naperville about 1898 and went to work at the Naperville Lounge Factory on March 1, 1898, at the age of 17.
Arthur started out in the packing department, and later was promoted to the spring department and then to the upholstering department. He would often be sent on errands to the Post Office to pick up the mail, to the bank to make a deposit and occasionally to the butcher shop to pick up a round steak for Peter Kroehler.
The Lounge Factory became the Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing Company when Peter Kroehler bought the business. Arthur finished his career in the service and repair department, keeping retail dealers and homeowners happy with their Kroehler products.
On June 28, 1900, Arthur married Ida Emma Winehold in Naperville at the home of her parents. Ida was the daughter of Samuel W. Winehold and Emma L. Mentzer.
Arthur and Ida were the parents of four children: Edna May, who married Leslie Johannes Arnett, Pearl M., Raymond Samuel, and Dorothy M. who married Adam Valentine Keller. They first lived at 133 North Center Street and then at 616 N. Ellsworth Street, just a short walk to and from work, like most of the other employees at Kroehler’s.
The Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing Company employed Arthur for 57 years. He served on the Naperville Board of Education for 12 years. Arthur was also very active in the Naperville Y.M.C.A. especially in conducting membership drives.
Arthur was raised as Master Mason on October 8, 1909, in Euclid Lodge and served as Master of the Lodge in 1921. Arthur was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Euclid Chapter No. 13 and served as High Priest of the Chapter in 1916.
Arthur was the maternal grandfather of Naperville’s long-time Municipal Band director, Ronald J. Keller, who was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.
He was also a member of Aurora Commandery No. 22 and a member of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church since 1899.
Arthur Jay Goodge died February 23, 1962, in Naperville. Members of Euclid Lodge No. 65 at the Ackman Funeral Home performed the simple Masonic funeral ritual. Dr. Paul Washburn performed the religious services and Arthur was buried in the Naperville Cemetery.