Civil Engineer. John Godwin was a master bridge builder before the Civil War and was well known for his covered bridges mainly in Alabama and Georgia. He was better known for training and freeing his slave-Horace King-pre-civil war. King went on to build more bridges after Godwin's death and to become famous himself. It was King who placed this monument on Godwin's grave to show his affection to his former master. Go to the browser on your phone and type in russellcountytourism.com to access our Tourism App.