Godfrey was born November 9, 1825 in Washtenaw County, MI. He studied dentistry at Ann Arbor, MI and also learned daguerrotype. Godfrey crossed the plains in 1850 taking pictures. He traveled all over Calfornia taking the first camera pictures in this state. In 1865 he moved to San Bernardino and opened a dental practice and also a photo gallery. He married April 18, 1866 to Lucia Percinda Huntington in Los Angeles. Godfrey died November 4, 1900 in San Bernardino and is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery.
Photo courtesy of City of San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society