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John Thomas Godley
of Navarro Co., TX |
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JOHN THOMAS GODLEY
“Uncle John was born March 28th 1843 in Macon, Georgia. Was 5th child
of John M. and Martha Brown Godley. They moved to Union County, Arkansas when he was 2 years old. They lived there 9 years, then to Union Parish,
Louisiana. From here at age of 17, he joined Confederate Army. Lost a foot in Battle of Wilderness May 3, 1864. Served in Second Louisiana
Regiment—Hays Brigade and Stonewall Jackson Corps Army of Northern Virginia to June 1865. On Christmas Day 1869 came to Texas. Settled at Honey Grove,
Fannin Co., Texas. Remained there 1 year. On Feb. 8, 1871 came to Navarro County. 1886 was elected Treasurer and moved to Corsicana where he lived
until his death Jan. 8, 1930.
He wrote down
most of the above on Mar. 28, 1928, his 85h birthday. He joined the
Missionary Baptist Church of Springhill, Louisiana. July 1865. Made a Mason
in Alabama 1864”
The original of
the above is in the possession of Erma Woodson’s niece Pat Lipscomb.
Notes:
-
Written by Erma Katura McConnico Woodson (1900-1995) regarding her great uncle John (John
Godley): -
Submitted by
Jean Gibbons
-
Confederate
Pension #8036
OBITUARY OF JOHN T. GODLEY
 John
T. Godley
Mar. 28, 1843 - Jan. 8, 1930
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD THURSDAY FOR JOHN T. GODLEY
PIONEER RESIDENT CORSICANA DIED SUDDENLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Funeral services for John T. Godley, aged 86 years, 1504
West Fifth avenue, who died suddenly with a heart attack
about 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon in the Navarro county
courthouse, were held from the First Baptist church Thursday
afternoon at 3 o’clock with interment in
Oakwood cemetery.
Mr. Godley was a native of Macon, Ga., and was born March
28, 1843. He served in the Confederate army under General
Stonewall Jackson, and has always taken a keen interest in
the Confederate Veterans work and organizations, being an
active member of Camp Winkler Confederate Veterans at the
time of his death. He served four years in the Confederate
army, and was wounded thirteen times.
Mr. Godley came to Navarro county in 1871, and had resided
in Corsicana for almost a half century. He had resided at
his home at 1504 West Fifth avenue, for 44 years.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. Howard
Williams, pastor of the First Baptist church of which Mr.
Godley was a member, Mr. Godley had been a member of the
Baptist church for 69 years, and was one of the oldest
Masons in Texas
Had Care of Family
Mr. Godley never married, but had had the care of a family
since early manhood. At the time of his death, Miss Erma
McConnico, a great-niece was residing with him.
He was serving as door bailiff for the grand jury Wednesday
afternoon and arose from his chair walked across the ante
room of the grand jury room on the third floor of the
courthouse and fell to the floor dying within a few seconds.
The grand jury had just begun its afternoon session and Mr.
Godley had the tablet on which were written the names of
witnesses to be used in the grand jury investigations
clutched in his hand. A negro witness in the ante room
summoned the members of the grand jury when Mr. Godley was
stricken and by the time that a nephew, Sam B. Jordan, whose
office is in the basement arrived Mr. Godley was dead.
He had been in the cotton business practically all of the
time since he came to Corsicana. He was in the firm of
Mitchell and Godley and Moores and Godley for a number of
years later being connected with the Corsicana warehouse. A.
S. Mitchell of Tupelo, E. K. Moores of Corsicana, and other
cotton men of the county had been associated with him in
former years.
Numerous survivors.
Surviving are Mrs. Joe Sands, niece, who resided with him
until marriage; Miss Emma McConnico, great-niece, who had
lived with Mr. Godley practically all of her life; Carl B.
Calloway, Dallas, Great nephew; Dr. L. O. Godley, Fort
Worth, nephew; Tom Godley, of Drane, nephew; Mr. and Mrs. A.
B. Calloway, Corsicana, nephew and neice; Miss Mamie Godley,
Corsicana, niece; Rock Calloway, nephew, California; S. B.
Jordan, Corsicana, nephew; J. W. R. Jordan, Texas City,
nephew; Mrs. Mary Etta Hopkinson, Anderson county, neice;
Mrs. Tom Harris, Corsicana, neice; Paul Jordan, Drane,
nephew; and numerous other relatives.
Active pallbearers were Will Clayton, J. E. Davant, Julian
(Dude) Ransom, J. S. Mitchell, Bob Smith and John Sloan.
Honorary pallbearers were all members of Camp Winkler,
Confederate veterans; B. Kenner, Rod Kenner, William
McPherson, R. D. Fleming, Judge H. B. Daviss, Zeb Furke, Dr.
I. N. Suttle, F. J. Lindsey, J. L. Cox, J. L. Marshall, W.
D. Robinson, Ben Boltz, R. B. Munsey, E. F. (Mose) Wells,
Judge Hawkins Scarborough, Rufus Pevehouse, W. A. Babb, Mack
Roughton, Drane; Mr. Horton, Drane; Bud Bryan, Drane; Donald
Smith, Drane; Capt. C. A. Davis, Judge Rufus Hardy, J. B.
Bryson, Wilber Allen, Frank Johnson of Purdon, and all
friends and friends of the family.
Sutherland Funeral home directed the funeral. |
Notes:
---
PIONEER NAVARRO COUNTY RESIDENT DIED SUDDENLY
JOHN T. GODLEY PASSED AT COURT HOUSE HERE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
John T. Godley, 1504 West Fifth avenue, aged 86 years, Confederate veteran, door
bailiff of the January grand jury now in session, died suddenly at the Navarro
county courthouse Wednesday afternoon about 2:20 o’clock with a heart attack.
The body was taken to the Sutherland Funeral Home but funeral arrangements had
not been announced at press hour.
Mr. Godley was sitting at his chair at the door of the grand jury room when he
was stricken. He arose, it was reported, walked across the ante room and dropped
to the floor, dying within a few seconds. He was appointed door bailiff Monday
by the grand jury.
For a number of years he was in the cotton business here.
He was wounded 13 or 14 times during the Civil War and took an active part in
the affairs of the local Confederate camp.
He was born in Macon, Ga. In 1843 and came to Corsicana in 1886.
Mr. Godley never married.
Surviving are a number of relatives including Dr. Godley, Fort Worth; John and
Lewis Carpenter, Dallas; Tom Godley, Drane; S. B. Jordan, Corsicana, nephews.
Notes:
----
Adopt Resolutions On Death J. T. Godley
The following resolution was passed and adopted by the January term grand jury
Thursday morning on the death of John T. Godley, door bailiff, who died
Wednesday afternoon with a heart attack while at his work with the grand jury.
WHEREAS, Mr. J. T. Godley, door bailiff of the Navarro county grand jury for the
January, 1930, term of the district court, departed this life while on duty
about 2:30 o’clock, Wednesday afternoon, January 8, 1930: and
WHEREAS. Each member of said grand jury is deeply shocked and grieved because of
the death of Mr. Godley; therefore be it
RESOLVED, By the Navarro County grand Jury for the January, 1930 term of the
district court in regular session assembled on this 9th day of January A. D.
1930, that we regard Mr. Godley’s life as an outstanding example of
unselfishness all the way from the battlefields of the Confederacy, where in his
early manhood he offered himself without reserve to the scene of his sudden
death in the reception room of these chambers; that the state and county have
lost a noble citizen, and his family a tried and true companion.
Be it further
RESOLVED. That we contemplate his passing with genuine sadness, and each of us
feels a distinct personal loss, and the family have our sincere sympathy in
their bereavement. Be it still further
RESOLVED. That this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this body, and that
the secretary deliver a copy hereof to Mr. Godley’s family, and that a copy be
tendered to the press with the request that it be published.
J. N. EDENS, JR. Secretary
C. S. STROUD, Foreman,
W. A. SIMMS,
WAYNE MILLIGAN,
J. A. ANDERSON,
R. E. MONTFORT,
W. J. LUNN,
T. M. SEWELL,,
R. H. STOKES,
A. P. YOUNG,
S. Z. BURKE,
F. M. COPELAND,
H. B. DAVISS, County Attorney
W. W. HARRIS, Asst. County Attorney
Notes:
---
Associate Praises J. T. Godley as One Of Best of Men
Corsicana, Tex., Jan. 15, 1930
Editor Sun:
I desire a small space to offer a word of condolence to the relatives and
friends of J. T. Godley. I regret very much that I could not be with you in the
last sad rite of consigning his dear body to its last earthly resting place and
his spirit to God who gave it.
My long association with him in a business in social capacity, causes me to
declare he was almost a perfect man. Honest, kind, and charitable. He helped to
carry the burden of many who were less fortunate than he. He has left an example
that we all should emulate.
He often expressed to me that he was ready to pass to the beyond and that when
he was called to pass as he did so as to not be any burden to any one.
Yes, it is lovely, for you who have had his association, but we should rather
rejoice that it is with him as it is.
By one who knew him,
J. P. BYRSON.
Notes:
----
January 8, 1930
Confederate Veteran At Corsicana Is Dead
CORSICANA, Texas, Jan. 8. - John Godley, 81, Confederate veteran, died
suddenly with a heart attack at the Navarro County courthouse Wednesday
afternoon. Funeral arrangements have not been made.
Mr. Godley was wounded thirteen times during the Civil war. Surviving
are a number of nephews including John and Louis Carpenter of Dallas;
Dr. Godley, Fort Worth; Judge S. B. Jordan, Corsicana; Tom Godley,
Drane.
Notes:
JOHN THOMAS GODLEY
MAR 28, 1843 - JAN 8, 1930
Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana,
Navarro County, Texas
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Navarro County TXGenWeb
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February, 2020
Edward L. Williams
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