Abel Godard

 Our village mourns the death of two
of its most prominent citizens, both
natives of the place and long identi-
fied with its best interests. Saturday
morning at 7 o'clock came the shock-
ing announcement that
     COL. ABEL GODARD.
in the prime of life, apparently in the
full possession of health and strength,
had surrendered to the great con-
querer. The call came without an in-
stant's warning. One moment genial
and happy, the next, and the gallant
Colonel of the 60th had "fallen in" at
his place in the ranks of the great
Grand Army of the dead. The de-
ceased was the only son of Harlow
and Mary Rich Godard. and was born
at Richville, N.Y., June 26th 1835.
His early education was received at
the Gouverneur Seminary after which
he entered the University of Roches-
ter from which he graduated with
honors in the class of '59. He then
took a two year course in the Albany
Law School, and was granted the di-
ploma of that institution entitling
him to practice in any court of the
United States. He was a member of
the St. Lawrence County Bar, tho
never active in the practice of his
profession. At the breaking out of
civil war he organized Company K,
60th N.Y.S.V., and was made its
captain Sept. 25th 1861, from which
rank he was twice promoted for val-
iant service. His commission of Ma-
jor is dated Sept. 16th '62 and he
was made Colonel of his regiment the
10th of Dec. the same year. He was
discharged on account of sickness
Sept. 18, 1864, and the following testi-
monial granted him at that time:
COL. ABEL GODARD,
  Commanding 60th Reg. N.Y.S.V.
 We learn with the most sincere regret
that in consequence of ill health your
connection with us as an officer is about
to cease. We cannot part with you
without an expression of our apprecia-
tion of your gallant services while an
officer among us, and our respect for
you as a man. Two years of continu-
ed association and service in the field
have given us an opportunity of
knowing your high qualities as an
officer, two years of the most eventful in
the nation's history. We all remem-
ber with what daring you led your
command in the glorious action of
Lookout Mountain, and a few days
after at Ringgold, Ga. In the recent
eventful campaign of Sherman in his
eventful march thro' Georgia you have
justified by your conduct our high
opinion of your capacity. Worn out
by fatigue, enervated by a weakening
disease contracted in the nation's ser-
vice, we cannot help but admire the
resolution which has kept you at your
post so long, and we hope that with
rest and treatment your health will be
again restored and that your talents
will in some other sphere be as advan-
tageous to the nation as your career
has been honorable and useful while
associated with us."
 This testimonial is signed by all his
brother officers of the 3rd Brigade of
the famous "White Star Division,"
and shows the high esteem in which
he was held by his comrades in arms.
He was offered a Brevet-Generalship
but preferred to retain the title won
by his valor on the field. Col. Godard
has been a prominent figure in social,
business and political circles. He was
the first republican state senator
elected from this district, and was, at
the time he was thus highly honored,
only thirty-two years old. He has,
since its organization, held faithful al-
legiance to that party. Has several
years served his town most faithfully
as Supervisor and in 1882-3 was As-
semblyman from this district. Col.
Godard twice rebuilt the Richville
Mills and they are a monument to the
enterprise which few men would have
exhibited in the face of so many dis-
couragements. In 1877 he founded
the banking house of A. Godard &
Co., which was merged into the 1st
National Bank of Gouverneur. The
Colonel was especially popular in
Grand Army circles, commander of
Geo. A. Rich Post, No. 468, and over
one hundred veterans, representing
this and neighboring Posts, were in
line at the funeral held from his late
residence Tuesday afternoon. The
brief service was conducted by Rev.
T.T. Davies, followed by the beauti-
ful ritualistic service of the G.A.R.
Any expressions of sympathy to the
bereaved family, however warmly
felt, seem too cold and formal in an
hour of so great sorrow.