Four obits for the Godfroy family, Monroe, Monroe County, Michian Copyright © 1998 by Debbie Bert. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. ___________________________________________________________________ Philips obituary from The Monroe Democrat Newspaper, Friday Oct. 3, 1913 page 6, column 2 PHILIP GODFROY DEAD The grim messenger of death visited the Godfroy home, on Fifth street, this city, for the second time in fourteen months Thursday, when he claimed as his victim, Philip Godfroy, who after completing seventy-eight years, nine months and eight days of well directed and useful life, was called to his eternal rest to join his lifelong companion and wife, who passed away on the twentythird of July of last year. Mr. Godfroy was born in this county on the 17th of December, 1834, and never claimed any other place as his home. When at the age of sixteen years, he began what was to be a long career as a member of Monroe county 's staff of teachers, and for many years continued in this profession. Each summer found him engaged with his father on their farm, and each winter he directed his attention to school work, the school at that time being divided into three terms, consisting of a fall, winter and a spring term. He continued in this manner until he attained the age of thrity. Then came the dark days in the history of the American republic, when the nation was rent in twain upon the subject of slavery, and President Lincoln asked the young men of the country to protect the flag and prove to the world that "a nation so conceived can long endure". Mr. Godfroy responded to this call, and on the 29th of February, 1864, became a member of the Nineth Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, in Company D, and was soon thereafter in the midst of the great war. He was possessed of an unusual executive ability, and proved a most valuable soldier. The reward for his valiant service came in the form of promotion, and he was raised during his career from private to orderly sargeant, and later received command of Company F, of Michigan Cavalry. He saw service in some of the most brilliant as well as some fo the most disastrous campaigns of the war, and suffered greatly impaired hearing in later life as a result of a gun being fired close to his head. In July, 1865, he was mustered out, receiving an honorable discharge, and returned immediately to his mother's farm, where he remained for about a year. In 1866 he came to make his home in the city, and accepted a postition as clerk for the Bruckner hardward company, in which employment he was engaged till 1882, when he became collector for the city, and retained this office till 1893. As city collector he gained many friends, and maintained a reputation of ever conducting his office in a most efficient and satisfactory manner. Since his retirement from public life, Mr. Godfroy has been more or less inactive in business, choosing to enjoy the well earned results of his earlier strenuouse life. On the 18th of June, 1861, he was untied in marriage to Miss Euphemia Cicotte, a daughter of Captain John Baptiste Cicotte, who was an officer in the war of 1812. They became the parents of the following children: Mrs. Philip D. Mann, of Chicago; Mrs. Thomas Feely, of Joliet, Ill; Miss Dorothy C. , who is a teacher in the schools of this city; Miss Alice S. of Madison, Wis.; Miss Lola, who has remained at her home with her parents; Major Isaac P., who was an officer in the Spanish-American war, and now in business in the city; Bernard T., who is chief accountant in this city for the Michigan Central railway; and Philip M, who is construction foreman in this city for the Michigan State Telephone Company. Mr. Godfroy has been a lifelong member of the catholic church, and has for many years been enrolled with his comrades of war as a member of the Joseph R. Smith Post, G.A.R. He was a man of remarkable vigor till but a short time before his death, and was known among all who knew him as one of stanuch and admiralbe principle. He suffered failing health about three years ago, and gradually his strength yielded to the ailments of advanced years. Last summer he was stricken with malaria fever, and finally his heart became weakended, and he succumbed of heart trouble at about noon last Thursday. The funeral was help from St. Marys church Monday morning at 9:30, Rev. Fr. DeFryse officiating. Obit for Victoria Navarre Godfroy, wife of James Jacques "Jock" B. Godfroy 9-5-1879 The Monroe Commerical p.1 Mrs. J.J. Godfroy- Mother of J.L.C. Godfroy Esq. died at her reidence on the north side of the river, on Monday last, aged 80 yrs. Mrs. Godfroy was among the very early settlers of Monroe. She leaves sons and daughters. Her funeral was attended from St. Marys church yesterday moning. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taken from The Record Commercial, July 25, 1912 page 7 , column 5 Mrs. P.W. Godfroy In the death of Mrs. Philip W. Godfroy which occurred at her home on Fifth Street Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock, Monroe loses another representative of the early French pioneer families who founded the county. Miss Euphemia Salome Cicotte, daughter of Capt. John B. Cicotte and Mary Ann Navarre Cicotte was born in Monroe October 17, 1836, about one west of the city on what has been latterly known as Bissonette Farm. She was educated by the Sisters and was one of the beginners in St. Mary's Academy. On june 18, 1861 she was married to Philip W. Godfroy who was likewise a representative of one of the early French families of Monroe, being the son of James J. and Victoria Navarre Godfroy, who was serving as Indian agent for this vicinity and was the owner of the "Godfroy " farm now occupied by Jacob Cooke. During the civil war Mr. Godfroy seved in the commissary department. Nine children were born of whom seven survive. Julia, dying in infancy and Mrs. Thomas Feeley of Joliet, Ill., dying seven years ago. Those surviving are: Mrs. P.D. Manns, Chicago; the Misses Dorothy and Lola Godfroy, Monroe; Alice S., San Antonio, Texas; Philip McClelland, Isaac C. and Bernard all of Monroe. Besides her husband and children, Mrs. Godfroy is also survived by five grand children. During her entire life she has been identified for her church work. She was baptised, made her First Communion and was married in old St. Mary's church. To this church found her greatest pleasure in her church work and especially in giving aid and assistance to the poor and needy. She gave in secret, knowing that her Heavenly Father would amply reward her. That God did bless her speaks for itself for to few woman came there more joy and peace in their veneralble old age than to this beloved lady, who today goes out from our lives, leaving them better and nobler because of the privilege of knowing her. The city her church and her pastors join her family in mutual sorrow for the loss they have sustained. This morning at 9 o'clock, in the church of her [sic] the last honors of this life will be paid her. The services will be in charge of the Assistant Pastor, Rev. Fr. James S. Downey. After the services the reamins will be borne to St. Josephs cemetery, where they will rest in the family lot, by the side of her distinguished and beloved parents. _______________________________________________________________________________________ >From the Monroe Advocate, 9-23-1841 Son of Gabriel Godfroy and Elisabeth May PHILLIP SYLVESTER GODFROY - age 25 years, after a long season of suffering and pain, which he bore with Christian fortitude and patience, he resigned his spirit in to the hands of God, who gave it; relying upon the promist of Him who is able to perform. In the death of the estimable young man, his afflicted relatives have sustained a loss which none, but those who are called upon to experience a like affliction, can fully realize. The concourse asembled at his funeral, and the sympathy manifested for the afflected clearly indicated the estimatur in which he was held and the loss they had sustanned by this solemn dispensation of providence. dz