GODDEN, DAVID L.

GODDEN, HUDSON, HUNT

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 4/1/2004 at 15:16:22

Biography reproduced from page 265 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

David L. Godden, manager of the Godden & McDonald Elevator and active in the buying and selling of feed, hay and salt in the city of Burt and the surrounding territory, where he is numbered among the progressive and public-spirited citizens, was born in Clayton county, Iowa, June 9, 1871. His father, Moses Godden, was a native of England and grew to manhood in that county. He came to America when he was a young man and located in Clayton county, Iowa, where he married Miss Charlotte Hudson. He farmed for a number of years on the section in which he settled and gained prosperity as an agriculturist. He later removed to Kossuth county, and about 1873 located in Plum Creek township, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land. He broke the soil, plowed and planted it and soon had it in a state of cultivation. He bought more land and added it to his holdings and now owns four hundred acres of the most valuable and highly cultivated land in the county. He is still active and gives his supervision to the work of the farm, having reached the age of sixty-six years.

David L. Godden came to Kossuth county with his parents when he was a child and was reared upon his father’s farm. He was educated in the public schools of the district and remained at home, assisting in the work of the farm, until he had attained his majority. His father owned a threshing machine and Mr. Godden early became familiar with its operation. He married in 1898 and then began farming for himself, following this line of occupation for six years. At the end of that time he removed to the city of Burt and established himself in the creamery and butter business. He later obtained employment as butter maker in Lotti Creek Creamery and for two years did efficient work in this line. He eventually returned to Burt to take charge of the local creamery, and for four years was chief butter maker there. In 1911 he abandoned this line of occupation and formed a partnership in the purchase of the Burt elevator. He has since that time been extensively engaged in the grain business and is known as an expert judge of grain values. He also handles feed, hay and salt, and is doing an active and growing business in all these lines. He is at the head of a well established business, and his courtesy, ability and unfaltering industry have brought him prosperity.

On June 1, 1898, Mr. Godden was united in marriage to Miss Lula M. Hunt, who was born in Pennsylvania but was reared and educated in Iowa. To their union have been born two children, Bernice and Leola, both of whom are with their parents.

Mr. Godden is connected with Burt Lodge, No. 578, I. O. O. F., and is active in the affairs of that organization. He has always been a republican, but has joined the ranks of the national progressive party, of late. He is one of the well known men of Kossuth county where he has resided since his youth. His ambition has always been to gain prosperity in business by honorable and legitimate methods. There is no more worthy end, and in attaining it Mr. Godden has added not only to his own prosperity and to the resources of his state but to the commercial standards of his time.