Biographies
The
distinction of being a pioneer does not belong to Mr. Godard, yet when it is
stated that he has been identified with the development an business history of
Sacramento for more than thirty years it will be realized at once that he
is no recent acquisition to the city's ranks nor unfamiliar with the commercial
development of the past. The family of which he is a member claims old Southern
ancestry and became established in Missouri during the period of frontier environment.
His own early recollections belong to that state, for he was born in Clinton
county in January of 1862 and is a son of H. L. and Frances Godard. As soon as
old enough he was sent to school and there studied the common branches until he
had completed the course stipulated for the grammar grade, after which he
entered the high school. At the age of fourteen years he left school and
thereafter he earned his own way in the world. In the midst of many hardships
and privations he developed self-reliance and became accustomed to depend upon
his own native resources through the most trying discouragements.
The trade which attracted the early
attention of Mr. Godard as offering a means of livelihood was the occupation of
a blacksmith, and he served an apprenticeship that began when he was fourteen.
As soon as he had served his time he began to work as a journeyman and soon
acquired a local reputation for skill as a horse-shoer. However, he was
still a mere lad not yet out of his teens when he left Missouri and sought the
opportunities of California, settling at Sacramento, where for one year he was
employed by Wheeler & Nixon in their horse-shoeing shop. Then he opened up
a shop of his own and this he continued to manage until 1900, when he sold to
other parties. Meanwhile he has proved himself to be skilled in all departments
of blacksmithing and especially proficient in the shoeing of horses.
The business with which Mr. Godard became
identified in October of 1903 and which has engaged his attention from that
time to the present, forms one of the well-known amusement ventures for which
the city has gained a wide reputation. As proprietor and owner of three
theaters, known as the Liberty, Majestic and Acme Theaters, he has developed
the use of moving pictures for entertainment, amusement and education. Some of
the films exhibited in his theaters are exceptionally fine and have attracted
admiring comment from critics, while all have been selected with experienced
judgment and artistic appreciation. In politics Mr. Godard votes with the
Republican party. Fraternally he holds membership with the Elks, Eagles,
Knights of Pythias, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For a long period
after his location in Sacramento he remained a bachelor, but eventually he established
domestic ties, his marriage December 5, 1906, uniting him with Miss May
Burges, of Sacramento. They are the parents of one daughter, Margaret.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 986-987. Historic Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.