August was born on April 21, 1857 to Johann Henrich (Rudolph) Wilhelm Godt, known as Wilhelm and Katherine Niederfahrenhorst. He was baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical Church at Brockhagen. His confirmation verse was: Proverbs 3: 1&2.

He came to America on March 1, 1883. His future bride, Johanna Marie Wilhelmine Astroth had come to America at the age of 18 on September 1, 1881 with her father, Heinrich, and three brothers. Her mother and two brothers remained in Germany.

First called Johanna in Germany, she soon changed her name because of an overabundance of Johannas. Then she was called Marie, but in America, there seemed to be too many Marie's, so she was known as "Minnie", a derivative of Wilhelmine. Crossing the Atlantic was a rough trip for Minnie, and she was quite seasick.. When August returned to Germany in 1927 to see family she would not go with him because of her memories of seasickness.

On March 4, 1886 August and Minnie were married at the farm of William and Minnie Godt, who were cousins, north of Wright City, Missouri. They were married by the pastor of the German Evangelical Church in Wright City, Rev. Henry Feix. They established their own farm north of Wright City. They built a house, and lived there for some years. Then, they bought another parcel of land, adjoining the original land, and built another house there. They lived and farmed the land until 1937 when they sold the farm and moved to town.

Four children were born to the marriage. Henry William Godt, on January 8, 1887. On June 12, 1920 he married Caroline Hermeling. They had one daughter, Doris, born September 17, 1926. Doris remained unmarried and still lives in Wright City, MO. Henry died on October 8, 1956. Clara Wilhelmine Katherine Godt was born on August 18, 1889. She did not marry and continued to live on the Godt home place (both on the farm, and later, in the town of Wright City) until her death, August 19, 1975. Florenz William Godt was born December 22, 1892. On May 1, 1937 he married Irene A. Heltage. Irene was born on September 30, 1899, and is still living in a home in Warrenton, MO. They had one son, Paul William. Florenz died on January 31, 1972. Lorena Marie Melissa Godt was born March 3, 1902. On June 8, 1933 she was married to Clarence Henry Feix (the nephew of the afore mentioned Rev. Henry Feix). The had one child, Lois Marie Feix. Lorena died on November 14, 1984.

August and Minnie were married for 58 years. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on March 4, 1936 at the Godt farm, north of Wright City.

The name William is a common thread in this branch of the Godt Family. August’s father was known as "Wilhelm." August and Minnie’s two sons were: Henry WILLIAM and Florence (later spelled Florenz) WILLIAM. Florenz’s son is Paul WILLIAM. Paul’s son is Jonathan WILLIAM.

Henry was named for Uncle William Godt, whom August and Minnie stayed with when first married. Clara was named for a neighbor, Clara Ordelheide, and the Wilhelmine for her mother. Doris Clara was named for her Aunt Clara. Florence (Florenz) was named for Florence Ordelheide, a neighbor south of town. Lorene’s second name, Marie, was for her mother and Aunt Maria Astroth, and her third name, Melissa was for Aunt Melissa Astroth. Lois was named because the minister who confirmed Lorene, Rev. Dinkmeyer, had a wife named Lois. Marie, was for her mother and grandmother.

August spent most of his life on the farm near Wright City. He made one trip back to his home
land, Germany. In May of 1927 he crossed the Atlantic on the S.S. "GEORGE WASHINGTON."