The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-27

Seventh Year.
Joseph Godfrey. probably the best
known old-time hotel man in this part
of the state, and one who, during the
most active early period Of scranton
growth, was recognized as one OF a
small group of leading citizens, died
Christmas morning. His death came
just one month in advance of what
would have been his seventy-seNenth
birthday and removed about the last
of the sturdy and stalWart coterie OF
men who about thirty-five years ago
were concerned in building the back
bone of the present Electric City
Mr.. Godfrey's death occurred in the
magnificent Hotel Jermyn, conducted
by his son. Frederick S. Godfrey, and
on the site Of which stood the old
Forest House. which the elder Godfrey
conducted during the time of the civil
War. For two years he had been grad
ually failing in health and for several
weeks had been confined To his bed
No cause other than senility was the
immediate cause of death.
He was q pioneer Free Mason in this
region and members of all lodges OF
that order will join with Hiram lodge,
of which he was a member, in attend
ing the funeral this afternoon at 2.3I
o'clock in St Lulie's Episcopal church
Hiram lodge will meet at l o'clock at
Masonic Hall. where members Of other
Masonic lodges are invited to gather
Special cars Will convey MasOns to the
cemetery
Although Mr. Godfreys name by
Scranton's older citizens is identified
with the early management of the
Scranton Gas and Water company and
his position as president of councils
when Scranton was incorporated, he
is better known as hotel man to peo-
pie who knew him by only reputation.
A hotel at Canaan Corners, the Bris-
tol House in Providence, a DunmOre
hotel, the Forest House and tie Eagle
Hotel al Pittston We're conducted by
him i'm the order named.
BORN AT ITAWLET.
Mr.>Godfrey was born Jan. %. 1921
at IIawley. where. when a boy in the
public school, he received his only edu-
cation. When a youth he was a brake
man on the gravity road of the Della
ware anu IlulSbil COMPANY DtN " III
Hawley and Honesdale. When he was
"a years old, in 1915, he married Miss
Lydia Nadakin. Of Waymart. She died
i'm 1874. Two years later he married
his first Wife's cousin, Miss Jennie
Nadakin, Of Dunmore, who survives
him. He had three children, AMI
Frederick $, aud Angie, all by his first
wife. OF these Frederick is the only
one living.
During the middle 'tO's Mr.. Godfrey
opened a hotel at Canaan Corners
about twenty miles from Hawley, and
from where he went to Providence tC
become the first proprietor of the Bris-
tol House, built by Ira Tripp He re-
mained there only eight months, when
he left to take charge of a hotel built
by Mr.. Tripp in Dunmore. The Della
ware, LackaWanna and Western rail
road was being constructed at that
time and the Dunmore hOstelry was
the best in this region.
Mr.. Godfrey, after being five years
i'm DunmOre, bought the land and two
buildings at the corner of Spruce street
and Wyoming avenue, this city. He
connected the two buildings and added
an extra story. The whole structure
he named The Forest House" which
for many years continued to be the
best hotel in the northeastern part OF
the state and was used as a hotel unit
torn down to make room for the Hote
Jermyn. II was with great content
during the last two years of his life
that AIR. Godfrey expressed his happi.
ness in being able to spend his last
days and die in the elegant hotel con.
Quoted by his son on a site where the
father had experienced a part of his
carly and prosperous career.
CONDUCTED FOREST HOUSE.
During the war Mr. Godfrey was pro.
prietOr of the Forest House. At thai
time, when no citizen was more inlu,
ontial or more respected, he was in.
strumental in having the proVost's
headquarters established in Scranton
But for him Wilkes-Barre would have
been selected and something that had
much to do with the city's early promi-
nonce would not have materialized.
For four years after 1866 Mr.. God
frey was not in business, but he final.
ly resumed his wonted activity anC
was proprietor of Eagle Hotel at Pitts,
'O'' A'l NV S'biH hiiNll 400, NIltu lit
again retired
Mr.. Godfrey was the first nominee o.
the Whig party for mayor of Scranton
and was president of councils when the
city was Incorporated. He was the
first superintendent and an origina
stockholder of the Scranton Gas anC
Water company, and at the time of hi,
death was one of the directors of thai
big corporation. He was also a direc.
tor Of the Wilkes Barre Lace Manu-.
featuring company.
in order to become Free and Ac
cepted Mason it was necessary for Mr.
Godfrey to go TO New York city to re.
ceive the required degrees. Immedi.
ately afterWard he brought about the
organization of Hiram lodge, in Provi,
dence, the first in this section, anC
was its first Worshipful master He
was the first eminent commander OF
Coeur-de- Lion commandery, knights
Templar, Of this city. and was chosen
to serve in that capacity for five sue,
cessiVe terms.