Byron B. Godfrey, M. D.

Byron B. Godfrey, M. D., a prominent physician and successful surgeon ofHudsonville, is one of the public-spirited and progressive citizens to whoseinfluence the present prosperity of the village is largely due. The family ofwhich he is an honored representative originated in Wales, whence in an earlyday some of its members removed to America and became identified with the growthof this country. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Godfrey, was atrader between the East Indies and New York for many years, and later became acontractor on the Erie Canal.

The father of our subject, Almon Thomas Godfrey, was a native of VanRennsselaer County, NY, born August 5, 1806. He married Miss Lovina Beardsley, anative of Hannibal, Oswego County, NY, born September 10, 1812, and the daughterof James Beardsley. After their marriage, which was solemnized in New York, theparents of our subject resided in that State for a number of years and thenceremoved to Wisconsin in 1853, settled in Port Washington. In 1868 they came toMichigan and located in Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County, where they residedeight years. Subsequently they made their home with our subject until theirdemise, the father passing away on the 7^th of April, 1884, and themother, January 10, 1892.

In the parental family there were eight children, four of whom are nowliving, as follows: Mrs. C. E. Smead, of Grand Rapids; Morrill, a resident ofLansing, Iowa; Mrs. L. G. Allen, of Chicago and our subject. The parents werehonorable, upright and religious, the father being identified with the ChristianChurch, and the mother a member of the Baptist Church. Politically he was aWhig, and after the organization of the Republican party supported itsprinciples. The youngest of the surviving children is the subject of thisnotice, who was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, NY, March 1, 1848. His primaryeducation was received in the common schools of Port Washington, Wisconsin andlater he conducted his studies at Fond du Lac.

After completing his studies, our subject taught school for eight years,beginning at a salary of $30 per month and ‘boarding around’. His last termwas as Principal of the Grandville public schools. He began his professionalstudies at Detroit Medical College, and afterwards entered Rush Medical Collegeat Chicago, from which he was graduated with the Class of ’78.

He open an office for the practice of his profession at Lamont, OttawaCounty, where he remained for one year. In 1880 he located in Hudsonville, wherehe has resided ever since. At the time of locating here, there were four otherphysicians residing here. In addition to his duties as a general practitioner,he does a large amount of surgical work, in fact more than any other surgeon inthe county outside of the large cities. His practice is by no means limited tothe village, but includes a circuit of eight miles, and his reputation as askillful and successful physician is as widely known as his name.

In 1870 the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Mary Calista, daughter ofL. T. and Maria B. (Scott) Bursley. Her father was born in Hannibal, OswegoCounty, NY, on the 13^th of March, 1821, and was one of the very firstsettlers of this township, having aided in the erection of the first house builtin Lamont. His wife, who was born in Ellisburg, NY, August 17, 1817, died on the19^th of March, 1872. They were the parents of six children, of whomour subject’s wife was the eldest. She was born on the 7^th of June,1851, in Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, Michigan and received her educationin the Grandville schools. Their union has resulted in the birth of fourchildren, two of whom are now living, namely: Pearl Cleo and Almon T. Theformer, who was born in Tallmadge Township, February 16, 1872, was graduatedfrom Hope College, in Holland, Michigan in the Class of ’90. She became thewife of the Rev. Isaac VanKampen on the 28^th of June, 1893, and nowresides in Saddle River, NJ, where he is a pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church,American. The parents of Mr. VanKampen were among the early Dutch settlers ofHolland, this State. He is a young man of fine education, having graduated inSweensburg’s Business College, at Grand Rapids; Hope College, at Holland; andRutger’s Seminary, in New Jersey. Our subject’s only son, Almon Tanner, wasborn in Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County, and was graduated from theHudsonville school in 1893. He is now a student at Hope College.

In his social connections the Doctor is identified with the Masonic Order atCoopersville; Lodge No. 346, I.O.O.F. at Hudsonville; and the Order of theMaccabees, of which he is Examining Physician. He has been actively identifiedwith the Good Templars for a number of years. His wife also takes an active partin the temperance work.

In politics a stanch Republican-Prohibitionist, he has been for years one ofthe most influential members of his party in this section of the state. In 1890he was the candidate for Congress from the Fifth Michigan District, and receiveda large number of votes, although defeated with the remainder of the ticket. Hewas a delegate to the Prohibition National Convention at Indianapolis, Indianain 1890, and has also represented his party in other important positions. He hasserved as Justice of the Peace and in other local offices.

In all matters pertaining to his profession, the Doctor is interested andwell informed. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and in 1891 he reada paper before that organization upon the subject of "LaGrippe". Hiscontributions to medical journals prove the possession of broad information andwise judgment, and show that he keeps abreast with every advancement made in theprofession. He has furnished articles on important topics to the Physicianand Surgeon, at Ann Arbor, and the Medical Review. He is not onlyprominent in the State Medical Society, but also takes an active part in theNational Medical Society, and is now serving his third term as President of theGrand River Valley Medical Society. Throughout the years of his professionallabors, his interest in agriculture has been continuous and he has superintendedthe management of his large farm. He served as President of the South OttawaAgricultural and Horticultural Society, and is influential in farming circles.He is also prominent in educational affairs, and is the President of the SchoolBoard at Hudsonville. He aided in the organization of the South Ottawa Teachers’Association, and has been an honorary member of the society since it formation.