Jasper R. GODFREY

1842 - 1905  (62 years)

• Name	Jasper R. GODFREY  [3]
  	Like his brother, William, he accompanied his father to Michigan in 1844, and likewise served in the Civil War in Co. A, 1st Mich. Reg. of Engineers; he was with Gen. Sherman on his memorable March to the Sea. After the war he settled in Parma where he conducted a hardware business for many years and was Postmaster under Pres. Harrison. [1] Jasper R. Godfrey is a native of the state of New York, having been born in Genesee county, October 3, 1842, the son of John K. and Susan (Randall) Godfrey, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Vermont. They were married in New York and resided there a number of years before moving to Michigan. They located in Jackson county in 1844, upon a farm in Parma- township, which remained their home until their death. She died in December, 1871, at the age of fifty-three years, while his death occurred September 14, 1884, when in his seventieth year. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: At~the time of his death John K. Godfrey was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, besides much personal property. All of his land had been cleared and improved, most of the work having been done by his own labor. In politics he was first a Whig, later a Republican, and though never aspiring to public place, he was elected and served as township treasurer and highway commissioner, each a number of years. In religion he was a Baptist and died in the faith and fellowship of that church. The paternal grandparents of the subject were Elijah and Catharine (Slauson) Godfrey, natives of New York, who came to Jackson county in the evening of their life to be near their children and grandchildren. Here they died many years ago, having endeared themselves, not only to their own people, but to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The maternal grandfather of the subject was Noah Randall, a native of Vermont, where he was reared and educated. In middle life he moved to New York and there the remaining years of his life were spent. On his father's farm the early days of the life of Jasper R. Godfrey were occupied in the usual work assigned to youths in the rural districts. He attended the common schools of the neighborhood and profited so well by the instruction received that few of his age were better versed in all of the branches taught than he was when the end of his school days came. A careful survey of the situation convinced him that life on the farm furnished ample opportunity for the exercise of his talents and for eight years he devoted himself to the labors of an agriculturist. In 1874 he decided to embark on a mercantile career, and, accordingly, opened up a hardware and agricultural implement house in Parma. It proved to meet a long felt want, for it prospered from the beginning, its patronage increasing year by year. In 1900 pressing demand made it necessary for Mr. Godfrey to add a stock of groceries, the demands upon which have been great and persistent. During the administration of President Harrison Mr. Godfrey was commissioned postmaster of the village of Parma and discharged the duties of the office very efficiently until obliged to make room for a follower of the opposite political faith. The military career of Mr. Godfrey is brief; but it was quite interesting and most worthy. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, First Regiment Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. The regiment was one that had already seen much service, so there was little delay in getting it to the enemy's country. Although out only ten, months from the time Mr. Godfrey became a member of it, the regiment saw much service and was in many trying positions. It was with Sherman on the memorable march through Georgia to the sea, and also through the Carolinas to Washington, D. C. The regiment were between Raleigh and Golds- boro at the time of the surrender of General Lee. The subject estimates that they traveled on foot more than fourteen hundred miles, stopping frequently to exchange compliments with the enemy through the muzzles of their muskets. On the 15th day of December, 1865, J. R. Godfrey was united in marriage to Miss Helen Chapel, a native of Michigan, born in 1846. Her parents were Lorenzo Dowe and Margaret (Clapp) Chapel, who were among the early pioneer settlers of Jackson county. To Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey three children were born, viz: John D. died at five years of age; Edith C. and Irving J. On September 19, 1873, Mrs. Helen Godfrey departed this life, leaving to her bereaved husband the care of their two helpless little children, the oldest of whom was little more than six years, old. October 2f, 1875, Mr. Godfrey was again married, his bride on this occasion being Alice M. Dates, a native of Wisconsin. Her parents were John and (VanValin) Dates, natives of New York. This union has proved felicitous and congenial and the home life of the family is all that could be desired. In politics Mr. Godfrey is a Republican. He believes it to be the duty of every good citizen to interest himself actively in political affairs on behalf of good government and the public welfare. He is himself always active, particularly during political campaigns, and has frequently been a delegate to the county conventions of his party. To the office of township clerk he was elected, some years ago, qualified and served one term, and he was also a member of the board of education of the village of Parma eight years. He is a member of a number of fraternal societies, viz: Parma Lodge No. 183, Free and Accepted Masons, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Eastern Star and to Simon A. Downer Post No. 374, Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Godfrey also belongs to the Eastern Star. Mr. Godfrey is a man of keen business foresight and good judgment, whose labors in the community redound greatly to the public good. DeLands History of Jackson, Michigan Posted On find A Grave [2]
  Birth	3 Oct 1842	BataviaGenesee County, New York   [3]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1850	Living with parents in Parma, jackson Co., Michigan   [4]
  Census	1860	Living with parents in Parma, Jackson co., Michigan   [5]
  Census	1870	Living in Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan   [6]
  Census	1880	Living in Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan   [7]
  Census	1900	Living in Parma, jackson Co., Michigan   [8]
  Death	14 Apr 1905	Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan   [1]
  Burial	Chapel Cemetery, Sandstone, Jackson Co., Michigan   [2]
  Person ID	I78666	Main Tree
  Last Modified	20 Sep 2015

  
  

  Father	John King GODFREY,   b. 10 Jun 1815, Bloomingburg, Orange County, New York d. 8 Sep 1884, Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan (Age 69 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Susan RANDALL,   b. 24 Jul 1818, Stafford, New York d. 12 Dec 1871, Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan (Age 53 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Marriage	6 Dec 1839	Genesee County, New York   [3]
  Family ID	F31638	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Helen M. CHAPEL,   b. 1846   d. 1873 (Age 27 years)
  Marriage	15 Dec 1865	Parma, Michigan   [1]
  Children	1. John D. GODFREY,   b. 1867   d. 1873 (Age 6 years)  [Birth]   2. Edith GODFREY,   b. 2 Sep 1869, Parma, Jackson Co. Michigan d. 12 Jan 1901, Jackson County, Michigan (Age 31 years)  [Birth] + 3. Irving J. GODFREY,   b. 15 Oct 1871, Parma, Jackson Co. Michigan d. 29 Mar 1928, Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan (Age 56 years)  [Birth]
  Family ID	F31681	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	5 Aug 2015

  
  

  Family 2	Alice M. DATES,   b. 2 Jun 1842, Beloit, Wisconsin d. 5 Jan 1928, Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan (Age 85 years)
  Marriage	23 Oct 1875	Beloit, Wisconsin   [1]
  Family ID	F31682	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	21 Jul 2015

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 3 Oct 1842 - BataviaGenesee County, New York Marriage - 23 Oct 1875 - Beloit, Wisconsin Death - 14 Apr 1905 - Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan Burial - - Chapel Cemetery, Sandstone, Jackson Co., Michigan  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Headstones

  Jasper R. Godfrey Headstone Jasper, the son of John King Godfrey and Susan Randall is the husband of (1) Helen Chapel and (2) Alice M. Dates. He is buried in the Chapel Cemetery in Sandstone, Jackson Co., Michigan. Crated by: Marilynn Johnson, contri.. Photo Added by: Melissa Rouse

  
  

• Sources

  [S7507] The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 1945 Vol. 76 No. 4 October. [S02329] Find A Grave Website. [S7506] The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 1945 Vol. 76 No. 3 July. [S7527] 1850 Census Parma, Jackson County, Michigan. [S7510] 1860 Census Parma, Jackson County, Michigan. [S7528] 1870 Census Parma, Jackson County, Michigan. [S7529] 1880 Census Parma, Jackson County, Michigan. [S7530] 1900 Census Parma, Jackson County, Michigan.