Rev Josiah Godby |
REV. JOSIAH GODBEY
Source: BIOGRAPHICAL 1883 History of Howard and Cooper Counties OTTERVILLE TOWNSHIP - FRANK J. ARNI REV. JOSIAH GODBEY, originally from Pulaski county, Kentucky, was born June 30,, 1817, and was the son of William Godbey, a native of Caroline county, Virginia, born in 1781. He married Miss Sarah Smith, also a Virginian by birth, and to them were born thirteen children: John, Jacob, Fannie, Nancy, Iby, Matilda, Sarah, William, Harrison H., Josiah L., Josiah and Josephine (twin), and Melissa. Of this number, twelve grew up, but only six are now living, and three of the boys have been Methodist ministers. The subject of this sketch spent his youth at home until twenty years of age, when he was married in 1837 to Miss Sena Kelly, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy Kelly. By this union they have had ten children: William C., John E., Martha J., Sarah H., Milton, Samuel M., Josiah, Maggie, Thomas and Sena Alice. In 1833, Mr. Godbey having been converted, commenced studying for the ministry, though by his own efforts. In 1841 be entered the ministry of the M. E. church, by joining the Kentucky conference as an itinerant, being ordained two years later, in Louisville, by Bishop Morris. He continued to preach the gospel in Kentucky, with great success, for eleven years, when, in September, 1852, he came to Missouri. For over thirty years he has been occupied in the ministry in this state.