He was elected prosecuting attorney of Mercer County in 1863, and was nominated for the Ohio Senate for the 32nd district, then Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Mercer, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams counties in 1865.

[3] In 1871, the Democrats nominated Godfrey for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, but he lost to Jacob Mueller.

[5] In 1880, Godfrey was a candidate for presidential elector for the 5th congressional district, but the state voted for Republican James A.

[8] Godfrey married Lorinda Milligan and had one daughter named Luella, later Anderson.

[8] Beginning in May, 1878, Godfrey was a member of the Board of Trustees of Ohio State University.