Biography - CORNELIUS GODFREY

Cornelius Godfrey, one of the leading citizens of Staunton, Illinois, for many years identified with public affairs and prominent in business life, has been a member of the well known banking firm of Wall & Company since March, 1902. Mr. Godfrey was born on his father's farm in Dorchester township, Macoupin County, Illinois, June 29, 1855, and is a son of Franklin and Mary Jane (Sawyer) Godfrey.

Franklin Godfrey was born in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, and died in Staunton, Illinois, in 1880, aged 48 years. He had come to the State when 13 years old, acompanying his widowed mother. His business was farming and hotel keeping, and he was also prominent in Democratic politics. He built the best hotel then conducted at Staunton, which he operated until his death. He held a number of the local offices, was deputy sheriff, deputy assessor, and filled other positions, always with credit. He married Mary Jane Sawyer, who was born in Macoupin County, and they had three children: Cornelius, of this sketch; Elvin Ellet, a merchant of Staunton, Macoupin County; and May G., wife of William R. George.

The early life of Mr. Godfrey was that of a bright, intelligent, ambitious youth, whose aspirations led him beyond the mere tilling of the soil. He attended school whenever it was possible to escape the pressing work on the farm, and in 1871 moved into Staunton to become a student in the city schools. In 1873 he entered Blackburn University, at Carlinville. After two years of collegiate training, he began to teach school and later was made assistant principal of the Staunton schools. After taking a commercial course in St. Louis, which he completed in December, 1880, he went to Carlinville, January 1, 1881, in the capacity of deputy sheriff and served under Sheriff J. F. Sunderlin. In 1883 he returned to Staunton, and became connected with the firm of Williamson, George & Company, which bought the F. R. Fritz hardware store. He continued in the hardware business until after the first election of President Cleveland. He was then appointed postmaster of Staunton and held the office about five years, after which he bought the drug business of A. W. Buchheit, with Mr. Eslaman, and the business was conducted under the firm style of Eslaman & Godfrey until President Cleveland's second election, when he was reappointed postmaster and served as such more than four years. After a few years of rest from business care, in March, 1902, he became a member of the banking firm of Wall & Company, with W. P. Wall as president, and himself as cashier.

Mr. Godfrey has been very prominent in political life in Macoupin County. He served for two years as deputy sheriff, was elected in 1883 a supervisor of Staunton township and served three terms, in the meantime having been appointed postmaster by President Cleveland in 1885, and was re-elected supervisor just before his term of office as postmaster expired. He also served two terms as township collector. For many years he was a member of the Democratic Central Committee. Mr. Godfrey has always taken an active interest in the public schools and for a number of years has been president of the Board of Education, and is the present incumbent.

On May 2, 1888, Mr. Godfrey was married to Libby M. Wall, who was born in Madison County, Illinois, and is a daughter of the late Hon. Hampton W. Wall. They have two sons, Wall and Frank, both students in the city schools.

Mr. Godfrey has been interested in fraternal life since he was 21 years of age, when he joined Welcome Lodge, No. 396, I. O. O. F., but since the surrender of its charter, in 1880, he has been a member of Staunton Lodge, No. 685, in which he has passed the chairs and been secretary for 15 years. He is a master Mason, belonging to Staunton Lodge, No. 177 (of which he has been secretary for many years), a member of St. Omar Commandery, No. 30, K. T., of Litchfield; and a charter member of Orient Lodge, No. 95, Knights of Pythias, of Carlinville. Mr. Godfrey's portrait accompanies this sketch.

Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 524-527.