Godard - G. Orville - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Among the enterprising and successful business men of Darlington, Montgomery County who have made a success of their life work and are deserving of the title, "progressive," is G.O. Godard, a well known and popular merchant, a man who has never depended upon others to do what he knew to be his own tasks, and he has always endeavored to carry into his business and social life the principles based on the old Golden Rule consequently his large success in a material way has been deserving and he is worthy of trust and confidence that has been reposed in him by all who know him. Mr. Godard was born in Mercer Co IL Aug 19, 1872. He is a son of Samuel and Mary Dean Godard.

Samuel Godard was born on July 3, 1835 and his death occurred March 18, 1901. Mary Dean was born in 1847 and is still living, making her home in Arkansas. She received a good education and attended college; taught school sometime before her marriage. Samuel Godard spent his life successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, specializing on raising horses, principally Clydesdale horses, which owing to their superior quality, found a very ready market. He was regarded as an exceptional good judge of a horse. He was a quiet man, preferring to remain close to his farm and home, and took little interest in public matters. Politically, he was a Republican, and during the CIvil War he served gallantly as a soldier for the Union, having enlisted in October 1861, in Co G 124th Ill Vol. Inf. He served 3 1/2 years, then was honorably discharged on account of bad health. Six children were born to Samuel Godard and wife, 5 of whom are still living, namely: Myrtle, GO of this sketch; Ray; Dana; Stella and Banner, the latter being deceased.

G.O. Godard received a common school education in his native community in Illinois and there he grew to manhood on the home farm, remaining under the parental roof tree until he was 19 years of age when he went into the dry goods business. His start was humble, having been made in an old huckster wagon, he having gathered up produce around Francisville, Indiana making that town his headquarters. He soon however, had a start and, seeking a better field he came to Lafayette, indiana, where he remained awhile engaged in the same line of endeavor. Subsequently, he followed this line of endeavor in a number of other places, always with growing sucess, becoming one of the best known men in his line of business in this part of the satte. In 1900 he moved to Indianapolis and went into the dry goods business, being with several large dry goods merchants, including Wm. Laurie Co & WH Block and for a short time he was in business for himself. In 1910 he moved to Darlington and entered the dry goods business under the firm name of Godard & Peters. Mr. Peters retired June 10, 1911 and Mr. Godard continued the business under the name of GO Godard. He has met with a large degree of success, enjoying an extensive and lucrative trade with te surrounding country. He carries a large and carefully selected stock of up-to-date goods at all seasons and his hundreds of customers always receive honest and courteous treatment. He has the largest stock of dry goods in this part of the county. Mr. Godard was married on Feb 21, 1898 to Lena Vickers, who was born in KY Sept 27, 1877 there grew to womanhood and received her education. To our subject and wife has been born one child, Marian, whose birth occurred Jan 17, 1903. She is attending school. Politically, Mr. Godard votes independently. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian Church.