EMMA GODFREY

   Emma Godfrey, the youngest of ten children was born April 1, 1887. Clarkson Godfrey, her father, was born ten miles west of La Fayette, in Tippecanoe Co., Indiana, July 17, 1836; deceased in Waveland Twp., Pott. Co., Ia., Apr. 11, 1916. His parents had come from Ross Co., Ohio to Ind., making the trip on horseback and carrying some household goods and two children on pack horses. Clarkson Godfrey was married in Warren Co., Ill., Mar. 4, 1868 to Ellen E. DeHart, born in Brown Co., Ind., Mar. 23, 1844; deceased in Wav. Twp., Pott. Co., Ia., Jan. 30, 1931.

    Special feature by Emma Godfrey:

    In 1868 after the Civil War, Clarkson and Ellen Godfrey moved from Monmouth, Illinois, to Wav. Twp., Pott. Co.  They bought 160 acres of choice land for $8.00 an acre and five acres timberland near Wheelers Grove. They cut and hauled the logs home to be used for fuel. They used a range for cooking and heating the kitchen. There were three small rooms and one room upstairs. In 1894, I started to attend Rose Hill School. My older brothers and I went in the winter and we walked a mile and three-fourths. At the east corner we met the Corderman children and together we walked the mile.

    Monia Corderman and Bess Hemsted and Charles Bolton were some of the teachers. Bess Hemsted's father was a country doctor. One day Evan Corderman got a marble stuck in his throat. He was choking and they called Doctor Hemsted. He picked Evan up by his heels and shook him until the marble flew out. They were all so grateful to the doctor. Later the Hempsteds moved to Canada.

    When I was sixteen, I went to Elliot High School. In three years we graduated from the eleventh grade. Mabel Thompson and I roomed together in the Will Fortune home. Mr. Fortune was the principal. George Kriselmeyer worked at the lumber yard. George Kirby was a mail carrier. George Alliband was a country doctor. They all roomed there.

    George Kriselmeyer had a funny looking top stiff hat. He bet me two pounds of chocolate candy I would not wear it to school; so I took him up and won the candy. When we graduated we had to compose an oration and give it. The name of mine was "Solitude". I told of Beethoven composing his most beautiful Sonatas after he became blind. I graduated in 1906, thanks to some very fine teachers.

       ~ written by Emma Godfrey, April 1, 1979 at age 92 yrs.

    Since High School Emma has lived in Elliott and this area. Her interests have been many. Young people have known her for the special things she has done with and for them. Emma is the only surviving member of her family.