Hunterdon County NJ Archives Biographies.....John Forman GODLEY, 1845 - 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 10, 2008, 2:46 am

Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)

GODLEY, John Forman,
Enterprising Business Man.

  The late John Forman Godley, of Trenton, New Jersey, was a fine example of a
man born to command. Wise to plan, quick in action, capable of prolonged labor,
all these qualities were combined with a power of close concentration. He had a
habit of investigating thoroughly every detail of a proposed enterprise, and of
calculating closely the probable consequences of any given policy. Every subject
was given intense thought, and when satisfied with the conclusions at which he
had arrived, he had the courage of his convictions in the face of determined
opposition. His mistakes in judgment were few and far between.

  William Godley, great-grandfather of John Forman Godley, married Mary
Rockhill, daughter of Edward Rockhill, a prominent man of Hunterdon county, New
Jersey.

  William (2) Godley, son of William (1) and Mary (Rockhill) Godley, bought a
tract of land of two hundred acres in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in 1791, and
the following year built the large stone homestead on it. The Godleys were
Methodists, and as there was no church in the neighborhood, the presiding elder
held meetings at regular intervals at this homestead. He married (first) Abigail
Grandin, and when she died he married (second) her sister, Eleanor (Grandin)
Covenhoven, a widow, daughters of Philip and Eleanor (Forman) Grandin. Philip
Grandin was commissioned major of the Second Military Battalion by Governor
Franklin, April 10, 1771.

  Augustus Godley, son of William (2) and Eleanor (Grandin-Covenhoven) Godley,
was born on the Godley homestead in Hunterdon county, New Jersey. He was the
owner of a mill, and Godley Mills, Hunterdon county, was named in his honor. He
was also the possessor of other extensive lands in Hunterdon county. New Jersey.
He finally sold his mill and retired to the homestead which, after his death,
was purchased by his son, John Forman Godley. Augustus Godley married (first)
Mary Disbrough, (second) Elizabeth Paul Forman, a descendant of the Rev. William
Forman, of England, whose son, Robert Forman, had returned to England from
Holland, having married Johanna _____, and from thence emigrating to America,
locating in Flushing, Long Island, in 1645. Their son, Aaron Forman, married
Dorothy _____. Their son, Samuel Forman, high sheriff of Monmouth, 1605, married
Mary Wilfore, of Rhode Island. Their fourth son, Ezekiel Forman. married
Elizabeth Seabrook. sister of Daniel Seabrook. Their son, Dr. Aaron Forman,
married Ann Emley, daughter of John and Sarah (Lawrence) Emley. Their son, John
Emley Forman, married Sidney Paul Rakestraw. Their daughter, Elizabeth Paul
Forman, became the second wife of Augustus Godley and mother of John Forman Godley.

  John Forman Godley, son of Augustus and Elizabeth Paul (Forman) Godley, was
born on the Godley homestead, at Godley Mills, Hunterdon county, New Jersey,
August 21, 1845, and died at Trenton, New Jersey, April 22, 1913. His elementary
education was acquired in the town of his birth, and he then became a student at
the Excelsior Normal Institute at Carversville, and later at the Attleboro
Institution, Pennsylvania. About the year 1875 he removed to Trenton, and there
established himself in the wholesale bedding and spring business, in association
with Jacob C. Bloom, the firm name being Bloom & Godley. They commenced business
in a modest way in a small building on South Warren street, near Fall street.
Three years later they had outgrown their quarters, and rented a structure on
South Broad street, opposite Lafayette. The progressive methods put into
practice here caused a steady and consistent increase in the demands made upon
their business resources, and they soon outgrew these quarters also. In 1889
they erected a large and modern plant at Nos. 203-207 North Willow street, which
is the present home of this important concern. It has been found necessary to
improve and make additions to the original building from time to time as the
growing needs demanded. This firm is the only one in the city which manufactures
bedding and bed springs, and one of the very few in the State engaged in this
industry. About eight years prior to the death of Mr. Godley, the business was
incorporated, at which time Mr. Godley was chosen president of the corporation,
Mr. Bloom was made treasurer, and William Cooley, of Trenton, secretary.

  The reliable methods which have characterized this business from the outset
have resulted in gaining the confidence of all who have had dealings with it,
and the majority of its patrons are of very long standing. Mr. Godley never held
public office, holding the opinion that he was best serving the interests of the
community by devoting his time and attention to increasing her material
prosperity by means of his business. He has, however, always been a generous and
hearty supporter of any project which tended for the public welfare in any
particular. Of a deeply religious nature, Mr. Godley was a member of the Third
Presbyterian Church for a period of thirty-five years, during thirty of which he
taught a class of young men in the Sunday school. He was a member of the church
session for almost a quarter of a century, serving as sessional treasurer about
eighteen years. In early years he became a member of the Young Men's Christian
Association, and at the time of his death had been a director of this
organization for many years. His fine and commodious residence was at No. 197
West State street.

  Mr. Godley married Sarah E. Hunt, youngest daughter of Edward and Erne Hunt,
of Milford, New Jersey. He was buried in Milford Union Cemetery, in the
beautiful family plot, marked by a handsome granite monument of noble
proportions. The view from here, looking up the river to the west among the
hills to the setting sun, is most charming and not to be forgotten by those who
have looked upon the beautiful scene. Mr. Godley was of a genial, warm-hearted
disposition and his generosity and philanthropy were well known. A tale of
distress was always a passport to his sympathetic heart, and he did not rest
until the trouble had been alleviated to the best of his ability. The entire
career of Mr. Godley was marked by uprightness and sincerity of purpose.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN

VOLUME III
MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
1917


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