Godbey, Sylvester A., 1850-1940

GODBEY, GODBY, GODNEY, RICHARDS, BARTLETT

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/12/2022 at 21:24:28

From the Alton Democrat, April 26, 1940:

Dies At Age of Ninety

Word was received here of the death of Sylvester A. Godney, 90, who died in the hospital at Pipestone, Minn., last week following an extended illness. Mr. Godney was a well known early resident of the Ireton community, living on the Lean farm now operated by Abe Folkema. He was born near Pella, the first white child born in that township. The family came to Ireton in 1880 and Mr. Godney often told of hauling lumber from LeMars to Ireton, as there was no railroad at the latter place at that time. Mr. Godney was united in marriage with Adelia Richards and in 1890 the family moved to Pipestone county. The death of Mrs. Godney occurred in Colorado in 1900. Mr. Godney is survived by seven children and one brother.

[Similar obituaries were published in the LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel (April 26) and the Sioux Center News (April 25).

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From the Pipestone County Star, April 12, 1940 – Obituary:

Sylvester A. Godby was born near Pella, Iowa, February 12th, 1850, and died April 6th, 1940, at the Ashton Memorial Hospital in Pipestone, at the age of 90 years, 1 month and 24 days. He had been confined to the hospital since January 3rd for ailments due to infirmaties of his age, and he quietly passed in sleep on Saturday morning.

Mr. Godby grew to manhood in the vicinity of Pella, then a new country, as his father came by ox team from Ohio before the railroad came to Southern Iowa. He was the first white child born in the township in which he lived. In 1871 he was married to Adolia Richards and to them nine children were born, of whom two died in infancy. Two boys Marion and Allen preceded him in death; also Mrs. Godby passed away in 1909.

To mourn his passing are Grace, Mrs. E. L. Strecker, of Edgerton; Mary, Mrs. E. L. Barber, Hawley, Minn.; Ackley, of Pipestone; James, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Amy, Mrs. H. B. Wilson, of Madison, S.D.; a brother, Cameron Godby, of Peru, Iowa; also 13 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson.

The family home was near Pella until 1880, when the call of a new country took the family to near where Ireton, Iowa, now is, this being before the railroad arrived, and he often told of hauling the first load of building materials for Ireton from LeMars, a distance of 18 miles. He engaged in farming there until 1890, when the family moved to Trosky, and lived in surrounding villages until 1909, when the family moved to Colorado for the health of Mrs. Godby, who was laid to rest that year. Mr. Godby returned to Minnesota in 1926, and has made his home with his children since that time.

Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church in Edgerton on Monday afternoon, and burial was at Hillside Cemetery, Rev. J. A. Lensink being in charge. The pallbearers were F. M. Tindall, Cornie Manning, Albert Schelhaas, D. G. Stevens, H. C. Baldwin and I. M. Ford.

Relatives present included C. B. Godby, Peru, Iowa; Mrs. E. L. Barker, Hawley, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Godby, Pipestone; Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Wilson, Madison, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Milo Brooks and children, Worthington; La-Mayne Godby, Pipestone; Eleanor Mathison, Fulda; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Stromme, Madison, S.D.; G. M. Oldre, Madison, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Fields, Pipestone; Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Erickson, Jasper; Mr. and Mrs. John Holling, Pipestone; Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Wilson, Havil, S.D.; Monroe Lee, Havil, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Trygstad, Sioux Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Phil Axelson, Sherman, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. George Streeter, Sioux Falls.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Minnesota death certificate no. 1940-MN-012178 (informant A. M. Godbey) has Sylvester Godby, resident of Edgerton, Minnesota, widowed; born February 15, 1850 in Pella; parents Allen Godby, born in Pennsylvania, and Mary Bartlett, born in Iowa; died in the Ashton Memorial Hospital, Pipestone, at 7 a.m. April 6, 1940; cause, hypertrophy of prostate, duration 3 years; contributory cause, acute myocarditis, duration 2 days.

His FindaGrave.com page has Sylvester A. Godbey, born 15 Feb 1850, died 8 April 1940 in Pipestone County, Minn., buried in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton, Pipestone County. Parents Allen Godbey (1825-1912) and Mary Elizabeth Bartlett Godbey (1831-1889). Seven siblings listed. Wife Adolia A. Richards Godbey (1849-1909). Three children listed: Ackley Marcus Godbey (1883-1973), Amy Viola Godbey Wilson (1893-1963), and James Clarence Godbey (1894-1943). There is a photo of his headstone.

The 1880 U.S. census shows Sylvester Godby (30) farming in Prairie Township, Mahaska County, Iowa with his wife Adolia (30) and children Marion (son, 9), Grace (8), Allen (5) and Mary (10/12). The online indexes to the 1885 and 1895 Iowa state censuses show Sylvester Godby (34, 1885) and Sylvester A. Godbey (45, 1895) living in Reading Township, Sioux County. In 1900 the family is farming in Battle Plain Township, Rock County, Minnesota: Sylvester A. Godby (50), Adolia A. (50), Marion (28), Allen C. (25) Ackley (15), James (11), and Amy (5). In 1910 Sylvester A. Godby (60, widowed), his son Allen C. (34, widowed), daughter Amy Godby (16) and grandson Ray Godby (3) are in Prowers County, Colorado; Sylvester and Allen are laborers, ditch work. In 1920 Sylvester Godby (70) is living in Osborne Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota with his daughter Grace A., her husband Edward L. Strecker, a real estate agent, and their two sons (whose surname is Brooks). In 1930 and 1940 he is still living with the Streckers (or Strackers), in Pipestone, Minnesota; his surname is spelled Godbey.