General Edward Settle Godfrey

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Edward Settle Godfrey (October 9, 1843 – April 1, 1932) was a United States Army Brigadier General who received the Medal of Honor for leadership as a captain during the Indian Wars.

Early life and education

Godfrey was born October 9, 1843 in Ottawa, Ohio. He enlisted as a private in the US Army during the American Civil War in 1861. He served in Company D, 21st Ohio Infantry.

Because of his skills, he was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1867.

Career

Godfrey joined the 7th United States Cavalry and as a lieutenant was a survivor of Battle of the Little Bighorn. He wrote an account of the battle and his experiences in it, originally published in Century Magazine in January 1892, which was highly influential in shaping perceptions of the battle and Custer's generalship. Despite being severely wounded at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain against Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians, September 30, 1877, Godfrey continued to lead his men in battle. He received the Medal of Honor in 1894 for his leadership actions during this battle.

Godfrey was breveted major on February 27, 1890. He served in Cuba in 1898 during the Spanish–American War and in the Philippine-American War overseas (1899–1902). He retired from the Army on October 9, 1907 with the rank of Brigadier General.

At the ceremony of the burial of the Unknown Soldier from World War I in Arlington, Virginia, Godfrey led two platoons of Medal of Honor awardees as participants.

Godfrey died on April 1, 1932 at Cookstown, New Jersey. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 3. His second wife, Ida Emely Godfrey, was buried with him after her death.

Marriage and family

His first wife died before the turn of the century. Their surviving children in 1932 were Mary Godfrey and E.S. Godfrey, Jr., who became a physician. On October 6, 1892, Edward married Ida D. Emely Godfrey (1856–1941), his second wife.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Captain, 7th U.S. Cavalry.

Place and date: At Bear Paw Mountain, Mont., 30 September 1877.

Entered service at: Ottawa, Putnam County, Ohio.

Born: 9 October 1843, Ottawa, Ohio.

Date of issue: 27 November 1894.

Citation:

Led his command into action when he was severely wounded.

Edward Settle Godfrey From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Edward Settle Godfrey

Born October 9, 1843 Kalida, Ohio Died April 1, 1932 (aged 88) Cookstown, New Jersey Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Army Years of service 1861, 1867–1907 Rank Union army brig gen rank insignia.jpg Brigadier General Unit 21st Ohio Infantry 7th United States Cavalry Commands held 9th Cavalry Regiment Department of the Missouri Battles/wars Civil War Battle of the Little Bighorn Indian Wars Spanish-American War Philippine-American War Awards Medal of Honor Edward Settle Godfrey (October 9, 1843 – April 1, 1932) was a United States Army Brigadier General who received the Medal of Honor for leadership as a captain during the Indian Wars.[1]

Godfrey was born October 9, 1843 in Ottawa, Ohio. He enlisted as a private in the US Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. He served in Company D, 21st Ohio Infantry from April to August 1861.

Because of his skills, he was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point two years later, and graduated in 1867.

Career[edit] Godfrey joined the 7th United States Cavalry and as a lieutenant was a survivor of Battle of the Little Bighorn. He wrote an account of the battle and his experiences in it, originally published in Century Magazine in January 1892, which was highly influential in shaping perceptions of the battle and Custer's generalship. Despite being severely wounded at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain against Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians, September 30, 1877, Godfrey continued to lead his men in battle. He received the Medal of Honor in 1894 for his leadership actions during this battle.[2]

Godfrey was breveted major on February 27, 1890. He served in Cuba in 1898 during the Spanish–American War and in the Philippine-American War overseas (1899–1902). He retired from the Army on October 9, 1907 with the rank of Brigadier General.[2][3]

At the ceremony of the burial of the Unknown Soldier from World War I in Arlington, Virginia, Godfrey led two platoons of Medal of Honor awardees as participants.[4]

Godfrey died on April 1, 1932 at Cookstown, New Jersey. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 3. His second wife, Ida Emely Godfrey, was buried with him after her death.

Marriage and family[edit] His first wife died before the turn of the century. Their surviving children in 1932 were Mary Godfrey and E.S. Godfrey, Jr., who became a physician.[4] On October 6, 1892, Edward married Ida D. Emely Godfrey (1856–1941), his second wife.[3]

Medal of Honor citation[edit] Rank and organization: Captain, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Bear Paw Mountain, Mont., 30 September 1877. Entered service at: Ottawa, Putnam County, Ohio. Born: 9 October 1843, Ottawa, Ohio. Date of issue: 27 November 1894.[1]

Citation:

Led his command into action when he was severely wounded.[1]

1850 United States Federal Census about Edward Godfrey Name: Edward Godfrey Age: 6 Birth Year: abt 1844 Birthplace: Ohio Home in 1850: Union, Putnam, Ohio Gender: Male Family Number: 12 Household Members: Name Age Charles M Godfrey 34 Jane Godfrey 28 Edward Godfrey 6 Elizabeth Brougher 8 Catharine Frazer 22

1860 United States Federal Census about Edward Godfrey Name: Edward Godfrey Age in 1860: 16 Birth Year: abt 1844 Birthplace: Ohio Home in 1860: Ottawa, Putnam, Ohio Gender: Male Post Office: Buckeye Value of real estate: View image Household Members: Name Age C M Godfrey 44 Jane Godfrey 36 Edward Godfrey 16 Eveline Godfrey 9 Zoa Godfrey 5 Polly Sink 18

1880 United States Federal Census about Edward S. Godfrey Name: Edward S. Godfrey Age: 37 Birth Year: abt 1843 Birthplace: Ohio Home in 1880: Highland, Orange, New York Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Mary Godfrey Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania Mother's Birthplace: Ohio Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Capt Usa Cannot read/write:

Blind:

Deaf and Dumb:

Otherwise disabled:

Idiotic or insane:

View image Household Members: Name Age Edward S. Godfrey 37 Mary Godfrey 34 Guy C.M. Godfrey 9 Thomas E. Godfrey 1 Mary Godfrey 1m View Original Record

View original image

1900 United States Federal Census about Ed S Godfrey Name: Ed S Godfrey Age: 56 Birth Date: Oct 1843 Birthplace: Ohio Home in 1900: Ottawa, Putnam, Ohio Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Ida E Godfrey Marriage Year: 1892 Years Married: 8 Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania Occupation: View on Image Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Ed S Godfrey 56 Ida E Godfrey Guy C M Godfrey 29 Florence Godfrey Ed S Godfrey 21 Mary Godfrey 20 David Godfrey 19

Edward Settle Godfrey Birth: Oct. 9, 1843 Kalida Putnam County Ohio, USA Death: Apr. 1, 1932 Cookstown Burlington County New Jersey, USA

Indian Wars Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Indian Wars as a First Lieutenant in Company K, 7th United States Cavalry, during the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn, which he survived. The son of Charles and Mary Chambers Godfrey, he enlisted on April 26. 1861 in Company D, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was then appointed to the United States Military Academy in 1863, and graduated 53rd of 63 in the Class of 1867. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant and posted top the 7th Cavalry on June 17. 1867, he participate in the Washita Campaign of 1868. He then served at Yorkville, South Carolina on detached duty from 1871 to 1873 before rejoining the unit for the 1873 Yellowstone Expedition, and the 1874 Black Hills Expedition. During the Battle of the Little Big Horn, he was commanding Company K of Captain Frederick Benteen's Battalion, and survived the battle. He fought in the 1877 Nez Perce campaign and the 1890 Snake River campaign, and was awarded the Medal of Honor on November 27, 1894 for his valor on September 30, 1877 during the Snake Creek battle in Bear Paw Mountain, Montana, (his citation reads simply “Led his command into action when he was severely wounded”). He served as an instructor of cavalry tactics at West Point from 1879 to 1883, fought at Wounded Knee in 1890, participated in the Spanish American War in Cuba, and fought in Philippine Insurrection from 1901 to 1903. He was promoted to Brigadier General on January 17. 1907, and was named commander of the Department of Missouri. Less than a year later, he retired on October 9, 1907, at Fort Riley, Kansas. (bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson)

Family links:

Parents:

 Charles Moore Godfrey (1816 - 1895)

 Mary Chambers Godfrey (1822 - 1845)

Spouse:

 Ida E. Godfrey (1856 - 1941)*

Siblings:

 Edward Settle Godfrey (1843 - 1932)

 Bartholomew Chambers Godfrey (1845 - 1845)*

 Zoe Godfrey Ogle (1855 - 1935)**

*Calculated relationship

• *Half-sibling

Burial: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Arlington County Virginia, USA Plot: Section 3, Lot 4175-F

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Maintained by: Find A Grave Originally Created by: Kit and Morgan Benson Record added: Oct 20, 2001 Find A Grave Memorial# 5864258