Representative George Lute Godfrey View All Years

GEORGE LUTE GODFREY was born at Hardwick, Vt., November 4, 1833; he died at Des Moines, Iowa, April 24, 1915. He was educated in the public schools and at Barre Academy. In 1855 he removed to Iowa, teaching school the first winter at Dubuque, going to Des Moines the next spring, and soon after to Sioux City, where he assisted for some time in the work of the then recently opened land office. He returned to Des Moines in 1859 and took up the study of law. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted as corporal in Company D, Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the engagements at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, and was commissioned major of the First Alabama Cavalry on October 18, 1863. During the siege of Atlanta he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was mustered out on October 20, 1865, at Huntsville, Ala., and while there was elected representative from Polk county to the Eleventh General Assembly. He took active part in the proceedings of the legislature, secured the passage of a bill for the erection of a state arsenal and adjutant general’s headquarters and was the author of a bill for the erection and maintenance of a soldiers’ orphans’ home, which is now located at Davenport. Colonel Godfrey served for four years as recorder of the land office at Sioux City, as city attorney and city solicitor of Des Moines, and as assistant U. S. district attorney for four years. He was a member of the Utah commission from 1882 to 1913. From 1903 until his death he was surveyor of customs at Des Moines. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the G. A. R. and Loyal Legion.