My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES H. GODFREY, owner of the Godfrey Canning Factory at Benton Harbor, is a native of the State in which he resides and was born in Jackson County October 12, 1845. His father, George P. Godfrey, was born in New York, of Scotch descent, and in 1840 removed to Michigan, locating in Jackson County during the early period of its history. Thenceforth he was identified with the progress of that county, an interested witness of its growth and an active contributor to its development. He and his wife are now living at Springport, Jackson County, retired from the affairs of active life.

In a somewhat uneventful manner the subject of this sketch passed his boyhood years in Jackson County, where he gained a practical education in the common schools. He was a lad in his teens when the war cloud began to hover darkly over the country and the storm of conflict burst upon the people. With all the ardor of youth and of intense loyalty to the Union, he enlisted, when less than twenty years of age, becoming a member of Company A, First Regiment of Engineers and Mechanics. With his regiment he marched to the front and was engaged in destroying railroads, bridges, and otherwise impeding the enemy’s progress. Among the engagements in which he was an active participant may be mentioned those at Bentonville and Savannah. After the war was brought to a close and peace once more reigned throughout the land, he was mustered out of the service and returned to Michigan in October, 1865.

After engaging for part of a year as a farmer in Jackson County, Mr. Godfrey removed to Shelbina, Shelby County, Mo., in 1866, and there followed agricultural pursuits. Later he followed the same occupation for four years in Livingston County, Mo., but not desiring to remain longer in that State he returned to his former home in Jackson County, where he engaged in farming for two years. In the spring of 1872 he came to Berrien County and settled on a farm near the village of Benton Harbor, where he conducted agricultural pursuits until 1885. Removing during that year to Benton Harbor, he established a cider mill, and evaporating and canning factory. The factory does a good business and has filled a want long felt in this locality.

Mr. Godfrey conducts an extensive business in the evaporation of apples and small berries, which he ships principally to Chicago. He makes a specialty of canning corn, tomatoes and berries, and his canned fruit has a reputation throughout the entire country for the universal excellence of quality by which it is characterized. Adjacent to Benton Harbor he owns a finely-improved fruit farm, on which he raises pears and raspberries, and such is the success with which his efforts have been crowned that during the season of 1892 he shipped two thousand cases of raspberries.

As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Godfrey gives due consideration to the public issues of the day and possesses decided opinions upon topics of general importance. A strong believer in protection for home industries, he naturally affiliates with the Republican party and is one of the influential men in that political organization. Socially, he is identified with George H. Thomas Post No. 14, G. A. R. He owns and occupies a comfortable and attractive residence at No. 149 Brunson Avenue, and, being a man of domestic tastes, finds in his home the greatest happiness of his life. His marriage took place in March, 1866, and united him with Miss Mary Wilkinson, a native of New York. Her parents, Amasa C. and Anna (Jenks) Wilkinson, were natives of Rhode Island. The former died in 1849, and the death of the latter occurred during the same year. The Wilkinson family originated in England and its first representatives in America accompanied the famous Roger Williams to the United States, settling at the head of Narragansett Bay. Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey are the parents of three daughters and one son, Mattie N. May M., Willard A. and Minta E.