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Below is a family biography included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Milton Godbey, M. D., of Salem, Mo., was born in Pulaski County, Ky., April 3, 1845, and is the son of Rev. Josiah and Sena (Kelly) Godbey, and grandson of William Godbey, who was a native of Caroline County, Va., born in 1781. Josiah Godbey was born June 30, 1817, in Pulaski County, Ky., and remained at home until twenty years of age, when he married Miss Sena Kelly, daughter of Samuel and Nancy Kelly. This was in 1837. Ten children were born to their union: William C., John E., Martha J., Sarah H, Milton, Samuel M., Josiah, Maggie, Thomas and Sena A. In 1833 Josiah Godbey was converted, and commenced studying for the ministry, though by his own efforts. In 1841 he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by joining the Kentucky Conference as an itinerant, being ordained two years later in Louisville, Ky., by Bishop Morris. He continued to preach the Gospel in Kentucky, meeting with good success, for eleven years. In September, 1852, he moved to Cooper County, Mo., and for over thirty-five years has been engaged in his ministerial duties in Missouri. Dr. Milton Godbey went to Cooper County, Mo., with his parents when a boy of eight years, and received his literary education in the common schools of that county, but later attended the public high-school in St. Louis. In 1866 he commenced the study of medicine, his preceptor being Dr. A. H. Conkwright, of Sedalia. In 1867 he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, and in 1868 commenced practicing at Jonestown, Mo., in Bates County. In March, 1870, he graduated as an M. D. at the Ohio Medical College, and afterward practiced in Bates County, until 1875, when he came to Salem, Mo. Here he has since resided, actively engaged in the practice of his profession, to which he has devoted his whole time and attention. He has a large practice, and is one of the leading physicians of the county. On January 31, 1872, he married Miss Robertha P. Simpson, who was born at Harrisonville, Cass Co., Mo., February 20, 1854. They have three children deceased: Annie, Jervase and Frank; three are living: Milton E., Pearl and Elizabeth S. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, casting his first vote for Seymour in 1868; is a member of the Rolla District Medical Society, and has been its president several terms. He is a member of the United States Pension Examining Board of Dent County, and has been president of the same since its organization, eleven months ago. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dent County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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