Silas Wells Godfrey 1819-1903

GODFREY, PULLEN, ELLIS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/29/2011 at 00:30:57

At a Ripe Old Age
Silas Wells Godfrey Passes Away Last Friday Afternoon

Silas Wells Godfrey passed away Friday afternoon at 3:15 o’clock at the home of his son-in-law, Warren J. Pullen, at the age of nearly 84 years after a general decline of about six months, of old age. The funeral was held from the residence at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. A. C. Church, and the interment was in the cemetery on the east side. Silas Wells Godfrey was born in Jefferson county, New York, August 19, 1819. He came to Emmet county about twenty-five years ago. For the past fifteen years he has made his home for the most part with Warren Pullen, his wife having died about twenty-six years ago. About six months ago he began to fail, and the decline has been gradual.

Mr. Godfrey was one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge of this city, and one of the oldest Masons in the state. The funeral services were under the direction of the Masonic orders, and the pall bearers were from among his associates in that order being Messrs. J. H. Barnhart, W. H. Davis, L. S. Williams, C. C. Doolittle, Andrew Bradley and Isaac Skinner.

The deceased is survived by one son and three daughters. They are Mrs. Warren Pullen, Mrs. Frank Ellis, Mrs. Henry Pullen of this city, and Milo Godfrey of Muscatine. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 25, 1903)

Died – Friday, May 22, 1903, in this city, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. J. Pullen, occurred the death of Silas Wells Godfrey. The deceased was born in New York state in 1819, and in an early day settled in Wisconsin, afterwards living in Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa.

The deceased has been a member of the Masonic order since 1862. He has lived in Estherville thirteen years, and his age was 83 years, 8 months and 3 days.

Four children are left to mourn his loss. They are Mrs. W. J. Pullen, Mrs. Henry Pullen and Mrs. Frank Ellis and Milo Godfrey of Muscatine.

The funeral was held from the W. J. Pullen residence Sunday afternoon. Rev. Church of the Free Baptist church officiating. The burial was made under the direction of the Masonic order. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 7, 1903)

Note: Gravestone says 1901, however, the obit is dated 1903