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John Emory Godbey, American Methodist preacher, teacher, editor, and author, was born August 11, 1839, in Casey County, Kentucky. He was educated in private schools. His education at St. Charles College, in St. Charles, Missouri, was interrupted by the Civil War. The college was seized by Union troops.

He joined the St. Louis Annual Conference in 1859. Godbey married Mary S. Halloway on November 2, 1865. She died in 1910. He then married Martha Virginia Dunnavant in 1911.

In 1867, while stationed in Washington, Missouri, Godbey opened a private high school, his first educational venture. After two years as presiding elder, he was appointed to First Methodist Episcopal Church, South and afterward to Cook Avenue Church, both in St. Louis.

While in St. Louis, Godbey played an important part in establishing the Southwestern Methodist in 1882. He was elected editor, and served in this post until it was combined with The St. Louis Christian Advocate in 1890. He was then appointed to the presiding eldership of the Kansas City District and served until 1894, when he was elected editor of The Arkansas Methodist in Little Rock. While editing that paper, he was sometime professor of philosophy at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. He served in these roles until 1905. He returned to the St. Louis Annual Conference in 1910 and was stationed in Kirkwood, Missouri. He died on February 29, 1932, at the age of 92.

Andrew Daniel Gramley (1873-1958), American minister, was the son of William L. and Amanda R. Gramley. He was born July 30, 1873 in Sugar Valley, Clinton County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lock Haven High School in 1891. Gramley entered Central Pennsylvania College in New Berlin and received his bachelor's degree in 1894 and his Master's degree in 1897. Several years later, in 1911, he earned his bachelor of divinity degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, from which he also earned a doctorate in sacred theology.

Gramley was licensed to preach by the Central Pennsylvania Conference on March 9, 1895. He was ordained elder in 1899 and served appointments at Cumberland Circuit, (Junior Preacher); Penns Creek, Bellwood, McClure, Loganville, East Prospect, Baltimore (Christ), York (Christ), Williamsport ( First), York (Trinity), Milton (First), and Marysville. He also served on the faculty at the School of Methods at Central Oak Heights, and as Secretary of the Educational Aid Society, Chief Conference Reporter. He was on the Board of Ministerial Training, and was a Trustee of Albright College.

Gramley was also a Trustee of the Bible Conference Society and member of the program committee. He served as Secretary of the State of Missions Committee, and delegate to the Joint Committee for the Centennial Celebration in 1916. He was also co-editor of the Centennial Celebration volume and co-historian of the "History of the Central Pennsylvania Conference."

Gramley married Ada Laura Meals of Mt. Holly Springs, Pennsylvania, on October 13, 1898. They raised two sons, George Heil and Dale Hartzler. Gramley died December 2, 1958, and is buried in the Mt. Holly Springs Cemetery.