U.S. Congressman. He was the son of Samuel Godshalk and his wife Sidney Kelly, who were early settlers in this Chester County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather was a farmer and his father was a miller. William learned the trade of a miller; attended the common schools until 1833; and at the age of 19, entered Union Academy in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to learn Latin and become a lawyer. He abandoned this idea and returned to the mill which he had purchased from his father in 1847; he updated the mill including introducing steam power over water power in 1855. As a Republican, he was also was interested in politics: in 1848 he was county treasurer, in 1864 state senator, in 1871 associate state judge and in 1878 was elected to U.S. Congress in the 7th District and re-elected in 1880 but defeated in 1882. He missed almost 28% of the voting while in this office; this is below average. At the expiration of his last term of office in 1883, he returned to his old duties in the mill. He was married April 22, 1841, to Anna Swartzlander, by whom he four children: Alfred S., Mary, Elwood and Isabella. His wife died in November, 1873, and he was again married in October, 1876, to Emily Van Horn. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army by joining Captain George Hart's Company in September of 1862. He was at Hagerstown, Md., at the time of the battle of Antietam. For the rest of his life, he remained an influential and prominent citizen of Bucks County. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. and died in New Britain, Pennsylvania.
U.S. Congressman. He was the son of Samuel Godshalk and his wife Sidney Kelly, who were early settlers in this Chester County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather was a farmer and his father was a miller. William learned the trade of a miller; attended the common schools until 1833; and at the age of 19, entered Union Academy in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to learn Latin and become a lawyer. He abandoned this idea and returned to the mill which he had purchased from his father in 1847; he updated the mill including introducing steam power over water power in 1855. As a Republican, he was also was interested in politics: in 1848 he was county treasurer, in 1864 state senator, in 1871 associate state judge and in 1878 was elected to U.S. Congress in the 7th District and re-elected in 1880 but defeated in 1882. He missed almost 28% of the voting while in this office; this is below average. At the expiration of his last term of office in 1883, he returned to his old duties in the mill. He was married April 22, 1841, to Anna Swartzlander, by whom he four children: Alfred S., Mary, Elwood and Isabella. His wife died in November, 1873, and he was again married in October, 1876, to Emily Van Horn. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army by joining Captain George Hart's Company in September of 1862. He was at Hagerstown, Md., at the time of the battle of Antietam. For the rest of his life, he remained an influential and prominent citizen of Bucks County. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. and died in New Britain, Pennsylvania.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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