My Genealogy Hound

Arnold Godt, painter and contractor on Missouri Pacific Railroad, and whose residence is in Washington, Mo., was born in 1838, in the province of Westphalia, Germany, and is the son of August and Charlotte (Wetbracht) Godt, natives of Germany, born in 1809 and 1827, respectively. The father is a stone mason by trade. He came to the United States in 1865, and located in Washington, Mo., where he has since resided. His wife died in 1883, and was the mother of nine children, Arnold being the eldest living. He was educated in his native country, and in his youth took up the study of music and became skillful on the violin and cornet. He has also composed many pieces of music. In November, 1858, he came to the United States and located in Washington, where he began working at the painter’s trade and also gave music lessons. He was a strong Union man during the war, and in May, 1861, enlisted as musician in the Home Guards; after serving three months in the same he enlisted in the Seventeenth Regiment of Missouri Volunteers for three years, or during the war, as musician. He remained in service until 1863, when he was mustered out at St. Louis, Mo. He then returned home and resumed work at his trade-painting and music. He organized three or four bands in Washington, being leader of all of them, and he followed teaching and composing six or eight years. For the past fifteen years, however, he has been in music only for his own amusement. He has done the largest part of the painting, graining, sign painting and paper hanging in Washington, he being a very skillful workman. In October, 1868, he married Miss Louise Stumpe, a native of Franklin County, Mo., born in 1846, and to them were born five children: Alma, Egmont, Hellena, Freddie and Arthur. In 1868 Mr. Godt commenced painting and contracting on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and continued until 1875 when he abandoned the railroad work, and devoted his time to work in Washington. In 1886 he resumed work on the railroad, and since then has given that most of his time and attention. He is a stanch Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1864. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., also a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the G. A. R.