Alexis Godey | |
|---|---|
 Alexis Godey in 1870 | |
| Born | Alexander Godey c. 1818 |
| Died | January 19, 1889(1889-01-19) (aged 70–71) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Other names | Alec Godey and Alejandro Godey |
| Occupations | Scout,frontiersman,explorer,rancher,miner,guide and anIndian agent |
| Known for | Battle of San Pasqual,California Battalion and Expeditions withFrémont |
| Spouse(s) | Altagracia, Apolonia Calzadia, 3rd Soledad Cota (m.1849), 4th Maria Antonia Coronel (m.1863), 5th Maria Jimenez[1] |
| Children | 3 |
| Alexis Godey Home | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Alexis Godey Home | |
| Location | 1414 19th Street Union Ave,Bakersfield, California |
| Coordinates | 35°22′35″N119°00′30″W / 35.376319444°N 119.00820277°W /35.376319444; -119.00820277 |
| Official name | Alexis Godey Home |
| Designated | July 31, 1959 |
| Reference no. | 690 |
Alexander "Alexis" Godey, also calledAlec Godey andAlejandro Godey, was atrapper,scout, andmountain man. He was an associate ofJim Bridger and was lead scout forJohn C. Frémont.
Godey was born in about 1818 inSt. Louis,Missouri Territory. Although little is known about his early life, it is suspected that he was born to a French immigrant family from Canada.[2] Godey's home at 414 19th Street West inBakersfield, California isCalifornia Historical Landmark number 690.[3] He sustained a long friendship withJim Bridger, a fellow scout and mountain man.[4]
Godey's reputation as a scout led him to be hired by explorer and military officerJohn C. Frémont.[5] Godey was the lead scout for Frémont'ssecond (1843–1844),third (1845), andfourth (1848–1849) California expeditions. Frémont wrote that Godey had been key for the success of his expeditions.[6] Godey was instrumental in navigating theKings River andSan Joaquin Valley. This was especially important during theConquest of California and theBear Flag Rebellion.
On Frémont's second expedition in 1843, Godey had another opportunity to show his skill and bravery. On theMojave DesertSpanish Trail, Godey andKit Carson fought off a group of Native Americans, preventing an attack on the expedition and recovering stolen horses.[7] He worked withOld Bill Williams on Frémont's fourth expedition.[8] Working with Frémont, he attained the rank of Lieutenant in theCalifornia Battalion. For a short time, Frémont put him in charge ofMission San Luis Rey. Godey spoke French, English, Spanish, and a fewNative American languages.
During theBattle of San Pasqual on December 6, 1846, when theUS Army was surrounded and outnumbered, Godey led a small group out of the battle and past enemy lines.[9]
In 1848, Godey built a home in Bakersfield and became aminer,rancher, localguide, andIndian agent. When gold was discovered for the first time in theKern River by a group of Native Americans, they gave this to Godey.[10][11]
In 1852,Robert S. Williamson hired Godey to help the Pacific Rail Road Survey survey the land for the futureSouthern Pacific Railroad line that followed the 32nd parallel from Texas to California. The route followed theGila River to thePima villages and theRio Grande river. He also ran a ferry inFirebaugh, California.
In 1854, Godey was the scout for Kit Carson on his last visit to Kern County.[12]
Godey partnered briefly withEdward Fitzgerald Beale to raise sheep on hisTejon Ranch in 1855 and became the overseer of the ranch for a few years.
As an Indian agent, he was the overseer of theSebastian Indian Reservation in 1864. Godey was also the overseer forRancho San Emidio on behalf of Frémont in 1868.[13]
In 1870, Godey's divorce from Maria Antonia Coronel was litigated up to theCalifornia Supreme Court. Maria was the sister ofAntonio F. Coronel, the fourth mayor ofLos Angeles.[14]
When the USLand Grant Commission turned down ownership ofRancho Cuyama to the Lataillade family, Godey started a cattle ranch on the land.[15] The US Congress returned the land to the Lataillade family in 1872, so Godey moved off the land and returned to Kern.
Godey died on January 19, 1889, at the age of 70 or 71, at the Sister's Hospital Of Los Angeles, Sisters of Charity. He had been scratched by acircus lion, which he had tried to pet, and the scratch became infected. He was buried in the Union Cemetery in Bakersfield.[16][17]
The California State Historical Landmark reads:
