History of Marion, (Marion County) Ohio United States of America

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Biographies:

William Davis Godman, educator, was born in Marion, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1829; son of Gen. James H. and Anne S. (Davis) Godman, and grandson of William Godman and of Benjamin Davis. He was graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan university, A.B., 1846, A.M., 1849; the only member of the class and the first graduate of the institution. He was tutor in the Ohio Wesleyan university, 1849-50, was principal of the Worthington female seminary, 1850-52; was admitted to the North Ohio conference; was professor of Greek language and literature in Northwestern university, Evanston, Ill., 1855-60; professor of mathematics at Ohio Wesleyan, 1860-64; professor of theology and biblical literature there, 1864-65; president of Baldwin university, 1875-78 and in 1878 accepted the principalship of Gilbert seminary (afterward Gilbert academy and medical college) St. Mary's parish, La. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Ohio Wesleyan university in 1867.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William H. James, governor of Nebraska, was born in Marion, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1831. His father, a native of Maryland, and a tanner by trade, served in the war of 1812, removed to Ohio in 1820, and died in 1868; and his mother was a native of Vermont. William H., the seventh of eleven children, was engaged during his minority in farming, attending the district schools, clerking in country stores and learning the saddler's trade. He attended Marion academy two years, read law, and in 1853 removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he entered the law office of Bates & Finch, and was admitted to the bar. He removed to Sergeant's Bluff on the Missouri river and finally, in 1857, settled in Dakota county, Neb. He was married in that year to Louisa, daughter of David Epler, of Marion, Ohio. On Jan. 10, 1871, he was elected secretary of state, and was also state librarian, ex officio. On March 4, 1871, Governor David Butler was impeached and removed from office, and the vacancy was filled by Secretary James, until the inauguration of Governor Robert W. Furnas, Jan. 13, 1873.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor