Ralph Redvers Cecil Godfrey (1900 - abt. 1988)

Born 25 Feb 1900 in Mountain Grove, Olden Township, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Ila Earnestine (Campsall) Godfrey — married 1920 (to 1959) in Mountain Grove, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died about 1 Jul 1988 at about age 88 in Wingham, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Sproul [send private message]

Biography

• Census Docs report the family as being of "Irish Origin" (future research)

Ralph Godfrey married Ila Campsall, June 28, 1924, and they had 4 children: Olive, (b 1926, d 1999), Wilfred, Howard & Gail. Olive Howard and Gail Godfrey all married and had children.

The family's ancestors and other relatives had lived in Olden Twp for some generations, and are numerous. Ralph's great grandfather "Warren Chester" Godfrey was instrumental in opening the area for settlement. He had surveyed and supervised the building of the "Godfrey-Frontenac Road" and other pioneering roads for example. Ralph and his family lived in a log house on a farm which might have been passed down from a previous generation. The farm was S. of the RR tracks, close to the 1st concession S. of Mountain Grove. Ralph had horses and other supplemental animals & crops on the farm, but his main position was as a RR worker. The farm was stony, not profitable.

In the late 1930-s, the family move West to a more fertile farm in S.W. Ontario. It was situated on the N. side of the 1st concession which was S. of the hamlet of Dungannon in Huron County. Dungannon is N.E. of, and close to a larger town named Goderich. (*See below for more info about this town)

The Godfrey Farm neighboured one of the Sproul family farms at that time. In fact, one of Ralph's sisters, Edith, had married a Sproul, and their children also lived in the area.

Ralph Godfrey's daughter, Olive married a neighbour, James Clifford Sproul, one of James Sproul's and Margaret (Mason) Sproul's sons. (James and Margaret had 11 children).
Note: James Sproul was the brother of the David Sproul who had married Edith Godfrey, (Ralph Godfrey's sister). Therefore, Ralph's daughter Olive and James Sproul's Son, Clifford were not related, although their relatives were. For more on the Sproul lineage see James Clifford Sproul (1907-1977), &/or James Sproul, (1884-1953 ca.)

Ralph's son Wilfred passed away in Toronto (approx) 1969. Ralph's other son Howard established a family in Goderich. Ralph's other daughter established a family N. of Clinton, On.

Ralph retired from farming approximately 1964, sold off his farm and then the farming equipment and livestock by auction and moved to Verona, Frontenac County. Thereafter he visited and resided with his children in Goderich, Clinton and Ethel, finally settling in Ethel from about 1975 onwards. He eventually moved into his grandson's house in Ethel, By 1985 he was in a retirement home in Wingham, Ontario, where he passed away in 1988.

Ralph had 18 grandchildren, and while alive had more than 20 great grandchildren.

• Addendum: Goderich is a pretty town looking out over Lake Huron, in S.W. Ontario. A huge salt mine is a major industry for the town. The mine extends for many miles out under the lake and salt is collected in the mine by huge dump trucks which were assembled piece by piece inside the mine. The salt pan yields both table salt and road salt, and, it underlies approximately 1/2 of the lake, from Goderich to Windsor to Michigan.

Sources

• First hand knowledge by Mark Sproul, grandson, and summaries from Ralph Godfrey himself, his daughter Olive, and other close family members.

1911 Census of Canada, Census Year: 1911, Item Number: 5320169 (JPG image No: e001986543), Ontario, District Name: Frontenac, Sub-District Name: Olden Sub-District Description: Mountain Grove Village, page 4, line 35, Godfrey Ralph, Age 11, https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1911&op=img&id=e001986543, (2 brothers, John's and Henry's families), Microfilm: T-20372, Image No.: e001986543
* Note - Ethnic Origin: *GERMAN*

1921 Census of Canada, Olden twp, page 10, lines 27-28 2 Henrys 61 + 8 mths, + John 64 & Aseneth 63 & Grace 24 & Ralph 21, lines 29-32 -> https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=census&IdNumber=64277763 (many branches of the Godfrey family)

1931 Census of Canada, Ontario, Frontenac - Addington, Olden Twp. Page 10, lines 24 - 29, (Ralphs Family) https://recherche-collection-search.bac- & Itemized list: lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=census&IdNumber=79832094

Find A Grave Memorials Index database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71773279/ralph-redvers_cecil-godfrey: accessed 18 September 2023), memorial page for Ralph Redvers Cecil Godfrey (25 Feb 1900–1988), Find a Grave Memorial ID 71773279, citing Dungannon Cemetery, Dungannon, Huron County, Ontario, Canada: Plot: Section F, 87, citation Maintained by jaynetty (contributor 46830617).

Also Henry Smith Godfrey (71) & Ernest Godfrey's (36) family: Census 1931, page10, lines 30 - 35 Genealogy / Census Item ID number: 79832094, Library and Archives Canada: https://recherche-collection-search.bac- (and & Itemized list direct link lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=census&IdNumber=79832094 )

Research Notes:
The "origins" of the family is an area to expand research.

• Censuses note German origin of the whole Godfrey family*
• Censuses note Irish origin of this family