Carlton Godfrey (1865–1929) was a New Jersey Republican politician and businessman who served in the

New Jersey General Assembly The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...

for five years and was Speaker of the House in 1915.
Carlton Godfrey

Godfrey was born at Beasley's Point in

Upper Township, New Jersey Upper Township is a large township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 12,373, reflecting an increase of ...

, January 13, 1865. He was bought up on a farm, educated at public schools, and studied law after teaching school for several years. Godfrey was admitted to the bar in 1889 and practiced in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was elected Tax Collector in 1893, a position he served for five years, and succeeded to the office of City Solicitor in 1898.Daily Union of the History of Atlantic City and County, June 1899 As City Solicitor, he was responsible for drawing the Charter under which the city operated from 1902 until Atlantic City adopted the Commission Rule System in 1913.Scannell's N.J. First Citizens, 1917-1918, Vol 1New York Times, April 16, 1913. In 1900, Godfrey was appointed first president of the newly organized Guarantee Trust Co., later known as the Guarantee Bank and Trust Company of Atlantic City (which was bought by First Jersey National Bank of Jersey City in 1980, subsequently by Fleet Bank of Boston in 1996, and ultimately by Bank of America in 2004). Godfrey served as president of the New Jersey Bankers' Association in 1906 and 1907. He has the distinction of being one of the very few in New Jersey who have served as Secretary of a local Building and Loan Association continuously for a period of 25 years. Additionally, he took a deep interest in school matters and was a member of the Board of Education for 12 years. Godfrey, a Republican, represented Atlantic County in the

for three terms and was appointed Speaker of the House in 1915. His political associates in Trenton were amazed with his astonishing capacity for work. He seemed to thrive on long, drawn-out legislative sessions and party caucuses. He never tired of them and he never complained. He worked long hours in the state house before and after state sessions, frequently forgetting to eat or sleep. In 1916, Godfrey created a political sensation by announcing that he was a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. To seek support for his candidacy, he staged a dinner at the

Traymore Hotel The Traymore Hotel was a resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Begun as a small boarding house in 1879, the hotel expanded and became one of the city's premier resorts. As Atlantic City began to decline in its popularity as a resort town, durin ...

that was attended by prominent politicians and businessmen throughout New Jersey, but the nomination eventually went to the leading contender,

Walter Evans Edge Walter Evans Edge (November 20, 1873October 29, 1956) was an American diplomat and Republican politician who served as the 36th governor of New Jersey, from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1944 to 1947, during both World War I and World War II. Edge ...

, also of Atlantic County, who subsequently was elected the 36th

Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official r ...

.Atlantic City Press, February 28, 1929, Vol. LXIII-No. 36 Godfrey was known for his outstanding real estate and shore development accomplishments. He directed the movement that obtained five miles of Atlantic City ocean front for park purposes and secured the necessary legislation. His leadership is credited with building the lower beach boardwalk, creating many blocks of new beach front, and the building of the then

Margate City Margate City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Margate City's population was 5,317, a reduction of 1,037 over the previous decade.Somers Point- Longport boulevard. Godfrey and his wife Annie lived in Atlantic City and raised four sons, Carlton Jr., Samual, Philip, and Russell. He died on February 26, 1929, at his home in Atlantic City at the age of 64 after a long illness.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Godfrey, Carlton 1865 births 1965 deaths Politicians from Atlantic City, New Jersey People from Upper Township, New Jersey New Jersey lawyers American chief executives of financial services companies Speakers of the New Jersey General Assembly Republican Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly