My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM D. GODBEY is the son of John and Ellen (Void) Godbey, and was born at Terre Haute, Ind., May 8, 1830. His father was a native of Virginia and was born in the year 1786. He farmed quite extensively in Virginia until the year 1828, when he emigrated to Indiana, locating near Terre Haute. Here he continued his occupation of farming until the year 1840, when he removed to what was then considered the Western frontier, locating in Des Moines county, Iowa. After a residence there of three years, during which time he farmed, he moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life. W. D. Godbey’s mother was a native of Indiana and was born in the year 1818. There were eight children in the family, four boys and four girls.

William D., the subject of this sketch, was married September 26, 1853, to Ingala Ryan, daughter of Jesse B. and Mahala Ryan, both natives of Barbour county, W. Va.; the former was born May 12, 1814, and the latter March 1, 1813. Mr. and Mrs. Evan were married October 3, 1833, and lived on a farm in Barbour county until 1846, when they moved to Union county, Ohio, where they resided until 1851, when they moved to Delaware County, Ind., and two years later to Mahaska county, Iowa. There were six children in the family — three boys and three girls.

Immediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. William D. Godbey settled on a farm in Mahaska county, and continued their residence there for twenty-five years. They emigrated west in 1878, locating in Cass county, Nebr., where they resided until March, 1884, when they removed to Buffalo county. Their union has been blessed with fourteen children, as follows — Emery, born August 26, 1854; Harriet A. born December 12, 1855; John C., born April 13, 1857; Jesse B., born January 19, 1859; Emily A., born November 12, 1861; Mahala E., born September 20, 1863; Ulyssus S., born November 29, 1865; Charlie, born April 30, 1867; Olive, born March 30, 1869; Cyrus H., born December 11, 1870; Nora, born April 1, 1872; William, born January 30, 1875; Martha E., born November 12, 1876; and Delia J., born June 19, 1880. Mr. Godbey is independent in politics.