My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT H. GODARD. Representative among the largest and most reliable establishments of Mayville is the grocery house of Albert H. Godard, the senior member of the well-known firm of Godard & Bond and a successful business man of over twenty-one years experience. He is a son of Anson H. and Elsie (Moore) Godard, and was born at Mayville, Chautauqua county, New York, July 15, 1844. His grandfather on the paternal side, Aaron Godard, was one of four brothers who came from England and settled in New York some time during the last half of the eighteenth century. On the maternal side his grandfather, Elijah Moore, came from Tompkins Co. to Mayville, where he followed farming until his death. Anson H. Godard (father) was born in Jefferson county, in 1808, and died at Mayville, June 8, 1879. He was reared on a farm, and in early life came to Mayville, where he followed farming for some time, at the end of which he engaged in tallow chandlering. He was an old-line whig in politics when he came to Mayville and when that great political organization went down he entered the ranks of its political successor, the Republican party. In addition to the
management of his farm and conducting his tallow chandlering, he also engaged in the grocery business which he followed for many years. He married Elsie Moore and they were the parents of eight children, of whom six grew to manhood and womanhood: Hannah, William and Caroline, who are dead; Martha, wife of James Barrett, a carpenter of Mayville; Anson, who died young; Albert H.; and Elsie, now deceased.

Albert H. Godard was reared at Mayville, where he attended the public schools and was carefully drilled in his father’s grocery store for a mercantile life. After considerable experience as a clerk he yet determined to better fit himself for commercial life by a full and thorough business education, and accordingly entered Bryant & Stratton’s business college, at Buffalo, from which flourishing commercial institution he was graduated. Although but a boy yet, his father had such confidence in his business ability as to intrust to him the buying of his large stock of groceries, which he did so judiciously and satisfactorily, that that important part of the business remained, unconditionally, in his hands as long as his father continued the owner of the store. In 1869, he and Orlando Bond, succeeded to their present proprietorship and management of the grocery store under the firm name of Godard & Bond. They have continually increased their stock and trade. They now have a very fine two-story business building with basement, 25 x 90 feet in dimensions, containing office, salesroom and storage departments. Their grocery house is fully supplied and fitted up with every appliance and facility for the successful prosecution of their steadily increasing business. The stock comprises the choicest food products, staple and fancy groceries and sundries from the leading markets of the United States. Accommodating clerks and salesmen are employed and all possible attentions are rendered for the comfort and benefit of their patrons. Mr. Godard is a republican from principle but does not allow political affairs to take much of his time from his extensive business. He has frequently been appointed as an administrator to settle up estates and to act as assignee, guardian and executor. Mr. Godard is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Mayville, of which he is a trustee and chorister. He is a member of Mayville Lodge, No. 284, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mayville Lodge, No. 25, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Mayville Lodge, No. 825, Knights of Honor.

In 1866, he married Ellen Gleason, daughter of Rufus Gleason, of Mayville. She died in 1869, and on April 20, 1875, Mr. Godard united in marriage with Libbie J. Osborne, a daughter of Gustavus and Eleanor Eason Osborne and an adopted daughter of Hon. T. A. Osborne, ex-judge of the courts of Chautauqua county, and a very prominent democrat as well as a leading lawyer. To Albert H. and Libbie (Osborne) Godard have been born one child, a son named Anson G. Godard, who was born July 29, 1877.