William Godman

WILLIAM C. GODMAN.

W. C. Godman, a veteran of the Civil war and for a number of years actively identified with the agricultural interests of Saline county, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, June 27, 1845, being a son of Melvin and Mary R. Godman, both natives of the Blue Grass country, where the subject first saw the light of day. William Godman, father of Melvin, was born in jMaryland, but went to Kentucky in an early day and about the year 1830 migrated to Missouri, locating near Palmyra, where, at the sale of lands forfeited by the original owners for non-payment of the government price, he purchased several large tracts of those lands, on one of which he settled and in due time became one of the most successful farmers in his part of the country. He owned quite a number of slaves and rose to a position of prominence and influence in the community and died a number of years ago on the original homestead which he redeemed from the wilderness. His family consisted of two sons and three daughters, one of whom. Melvin, father of the subject, returned to Kentucky, where he married Marv R. IMarsh and engaged in farming, in connection with which he also dealt quite extensively in live stock and slaves and became one of the successful men of Bourbon county.

At the breaking out of the late Civil war. Melvin Godman entered the Confederate army and spent considerrible time in Richmond. Airginia. where he. by reason of his knowledge of conditions through the South, proved of great value to the authorities. At the close of the war he returned to Kentucky where he continued farming until 1868, when he disposed of his interests there and moved to SaHne county, Missouri, where he purchased the O'Banning farm, of four hundred and thirty acres, on which he Hved and prospered until called to his final reward in July, 1894. He was a man of excellent social standing and great moral worth, a devout member of the Christian church and a prominent worker in the Masonic brotherhood, in which he rose to high rank and held various positions of honor and trust. Mrs. Godman departed this life in 1888. She was a daughter of Abraham C. Marsh, a prominent planter of Kentucky and an ardent Union man during the Civil war. He accumulated a handsome fortune and died in January, 1876, leaving one child, the mother of the subject.

Melvin and Mary R. Godman were the parents of the following children: William C, of this review; Thomas M., who died while in prison at Camp Douglas during the war; Burton L., a lawyer of Marshall, who died in 1876; Josephine, wife of J. B. Way, of Kansas City; Mary, deceased, who married H. E. Emerson; Mattie, whose husband, W. Naylor, is a retired farmer residing near Marshall, and Beal, who died some years ago.

William C. Godman was born June ly, 1845, and spent his childhood and youth on the home farm and at the proper age he entered the public schools, in which he obtained a fair knowledge of the usual course of study. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and assisted his father until 1861. when he espoused the cause of the Confederacy and served under General Buckner until the fall of Fort Donelson, when his command joined Gen. John Morgan's cavahy and took part in the several campaigns and numerous fights under that intrepid leader in Tennessee, Kentucky and other states, including the raid through scuithern Indiana and Ohi(\ which ended in the defeat and capture of the General and the majority of his men. ]\Mr. Godman, with about three hundred of his comrades, fell into the hands of the Federals at Chesshire, Ohio, and from thence was taken to Columbus, where Morgan and four of his leaders were incarcerated in the penitentiary for safe keeping. \Wthin a short time, however, the daring commander succeeded in effecting his escape and, returning to Kentucky, it was not long until he was again at the head of a well organized force in the field where he rendered gallant service until shot by the enemy at Greenville. Tennessee, a few months after rejoicing his command.

Mr. Godman was first sent to Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, and from there was removed a little later to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he remained for a period of eighteen months. At the expiration of that time he was sent to Richmond. Virginia, and exchanged, following which he returned to the field ami joining" Morgan's second force. He proceeded to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he was detailed to act as one of the body guard of Jefferson Davis, in which capacity he continued until a short time before the Confederate President fell into the hands of his enemies. Fearingcapture, Mr. Davis divided all the money in his possession among his faithful followers, each man receivingtwenty-six dollars. In the share fallingto Mr. Godman was a five-dollar sovereign, which he still keeps as a relic and which is all he has to show in the way of remuneration for his longand arduous period of military service.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Godman owns two hundred acres of valuable and highly improved land which is considered one of the best farms and attractive rural homes in his part of the county. In connection with agriculture, he has devoted considerable attention to the raising of live stock, and by strict attention to his interests and excellent management he is now in.independent circumstances, with an ample amount of material wealth in his possession to insure his future against want or care. Mr. Godman has been married three times, his first wife, whose name is mentioned in a preceding paragraph, having been a native of Saline county and a teacher by profession. Her father. E. G. Lawler. moved to Missouri from Tennessee in an early day and took a lively interest in the improvement of the locality in wliich he settled. He is still living, at the ripe old age of eighty years, and is remarkably well preserved.

Mrs. Godman died in 1888. after bearing her husband nine children, namely: William H., wdio farms the home place; Thomas M., of California; Charles, who is now in Dakota for the purpose of regaining his health; Lester, a bookkeeper for a wholesale house in Kansas City; Jesse B., who is in the railway service; Beal M.. formerly with the National Bank of Commerce of Kansas City, but now connected with a wholesale firm, and three daughters who died in infancy. In 1893 Mr. Godman contracted a matrimonial alliance with Georgia Laythani, of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and a daughter of

James Laytham, who moved to Missouri in 1881 and became one of the large "farmers and successful stock men of Saline county. Claude, the only child of the second marriage, was born in 1894 and five days after his birth the wife and mother was summoned to her eternal rest. Like the first Mrs. Godman, she was a lady of excellent character and beautiful life and a worthy member of the Baptist church.

Mr. Godman married, in 1897, Mrs. Willie Hatfield, widow of the late James Hatfield, by whom she had three children, her union with the subject being without issue. After thirteen months of mutually happy and contented wedded experience Mr. Godman was again left a widower, since which time he has lived with his children who vie with each other in looking after his interests and ministering to his comfort. In all that constitutes high moral worth, upright manhood and intelligent citizenship, Mr. Godman affords a conspicuous example. Enterprising and public spirited, he does all within his power to encourage progress and improvement and his private life and character are as an open volume in which is inscribed a clean and beautiful record.

As printed in Past and present of Saline County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.