James J. Godfroy

James J. Godfroy (1802 – May 20, 1847) was an American politician who served one term in the Michigan House of Representatives.

James J. Godfroy
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the Monroe County district
In office
November 2, 1835 – January 1, 1837
Personal details
Born1802
Detroit, Michigan
Died (aged 45)
Monroe, Michigan
Political partyDemocratic

Biography

James Godfroy was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1802.[1] He was educated in Bardstown, Kentucky, and studied law. He moved to Monroe soon afterwards.[2]

Ill health forced Godfroy to abandon his law practice at an early age, and he became formed the firm P. & J.J. Godfroy with his brother Peter, and engaged in the Indian trade.[2][3] He spoke English and French as well as the dialect of the area's Native American tribes, and was elected as a chief by the Pottawatomie. He exercised influence in the affairs of Monroe County residents of French descent, many of whom were illiterate. Many of them sought his advice on negotiations and real estate transactions, and also went to him for election ballots to ensure they were voting a straight Democratic ticket.[3] He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in the first election after adoption of the state constitution, and served one term, through 1836.[2]

Godfroy died in Monroe on May 20, 1847, aged 45.[4][5]

Family

He married Victoria Navarre, the daughter of Colonel Francis Navarre. They had eleven children: John, Lewis C., Frederick C., Theo S., Hillary, Philip W., Augusta F., Celestine, Alexandria, Victoria R., and Mary Therese.[4]

Notes
  1. His birth year is given in various sources as 1802 (Bulkley 1913, p. 981), 1804 (Bingham 1888, p. 293), or 1824 (Wing 1890, p. 142). The death date and age on his tombstone (Find A Grave 2010) support the 1802 date.
  2. Bingham 1888, p. 293.
  3. Wing 1890, p. 142.
  4. Bulkley 1913, p. 981.
  5. Find A Grave 2010.

References
  • Bingham, Stephen D. (1888), Early History of Michigan: With Biographies of State Officers, Members of Congress, Judges and Legislators, Lansing: Thorp & Godfrey, retrieved 2018-12-15
  • Bulkley, John M. (1913), History of Monroe County, Michigan, vol. 2, Chicago, New York: Lewis Publishing Co., retrieved 2018-12-15
  • Michigan Manual (1877–78 ed.), Lansing: State of Michigan, 1877, retrieved 2018-12-15
  • "Tombstone of James J. Godfroy", Find A Grave, June 11, 2010, retrieved 2018-12-15
  • Wing, Talcott E., ed. (1890), History of Monroe County, Michigan, vol. 1, New York: Munsell & Co., retrieved 2018-12-15


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