Notes for: Frederick (Frederic) Bodine, Hon.

Frederick married three times. In 1880, he was in charge of the census for the 4th district. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and an assemblyman. He resided in Montgomery, New York.

The following comes from the section Bench and Bar in "The History of Orange County" (pp. 160-161):

Hon. Frederic Bodine - The blood and charateristics of four different races are represented in the Bodine family, the French, Dutch, Irish, and English, the paternal ancestors of Frederick having been Huguenots, who early fled from persecution in France, embarking for America, colonized on Long Island. A portion of this little band eventually found their way into Orange County, among whom was William Bodine, the great-grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, who acquired a large tract of land one mile to the west of Walden Village, the homestead of later generations of the family. Among his children was Peter, the grandfather of Frederick, who resided upon a farm in Montgomery, and married Miss Mary Millspaugh. Their children were eleven in number, one of who was Sylvanus, born July 10, 1807, and whose death ocurred in Steuben County, N.Y., in his seventy-first year. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of John Horton, of Goshen, and had children, - Amasa and Frederic. The latter, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born in Montgomery, June 18, 1835, where the early years of his life were passed. Those years were uneventful in character, the winter being devoted to study or teaching, while the summer brought its routine of farm employments.

In 1865, Mr. Bodine, having become weary of agricultural labor, disposed of the farm, and removing to the village of Montgomery, embarked in business enterprises. During the same year, he entered the political arena as the Republican candidate for representative in the State Legislature, to which he was elected by a large majority. Here he represented his constituency with marked ability, and served on the committee on schools and colleges and towns and villages. In connection with the former he did signal service, being largely instrumental in the introduction of the bill in the behalf of the free-school system, which afterwards became a law, under which the State is now working. Mr. Bodine, in the fall of 1866, purchased a farm at Plattsburgh, N.Y., to which he removed, but the surroundings of his old home proving more congenial, he returned to Montgomery the following year and engaged in buisness. He has since been identified with the public interests of the township; is a director of the Walden Savings-Bank, has been railroad commissioner for the township of Montgomery since 1873, and has served as highway commissioner and inspector of elections. He was appointed, in 1880, supervisor of census for the Fourth New York District by President Hayes, including the counties of Ulster, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, and Delaware.

He was in 1870 elected justice of the peace, and still fills the office. Mr. Bodine abandoned mercantile pursuits in 1877, and began the study of law with Mr. Joseph M. Wilkin, Esq. He was admitted to the bar as attorney and counselor at the general term held in Brooklyn, February, 1880, and at once engaged in the practice of his profession. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and an earnest advocate of the principles of the party. He is an active and useful member of the Presbyterian Church of Montgomery, of which he is an elder. Mr. Bodine has been twice married. He was first united to Miss Mittie Graham, June 5, 1862, to whom was born a son, Theodore. Mrs. Bodine's death occurred Feb. 28, 1870, and he was a second time married, Nov. 16, 1870, to Mrs. Emma Decker of Montgomery.

And here is a picture taken from the article above:

Frederic Bodine and Signature

Marriage Notices - Goshen Independent Republican 1866-1883:
- 16 Nov 1870 Hon Fred Bodine to Mrs George W. Decker at the home of the bride all of Montgomery.
- 10 May 1883 Frederic Bodine to Mrs. Mary Vanderoef at the residence of Mr James Vanderoef all of Montgomery.

From Ronny Bodine:

From: The History of Orange County, New York, Everts & Peck, Philadelphia, 1881,pp. 160-161:

Hon. Frederic Bodine - The blood and charateristics of four different races are represented in the Bodine family, the French, Dutch, Irish, and English, the paternal ancestors of Frederick having been Huguenots, who early fled from persecution in France, embarking for America, colonized on Long Island. A portion of this little band eventually found their way into Orange County, among whom was William Bodine, the great-grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, who acquired a large tract of land one mile to the west of Walden Village, the homestead of later generations of the family. Among his children was Peter, the grandfather of Frederick, who resided upon a farm in Montgomery, and married Miss Mary Millspaugh. Their children were eleven in number, one of who was Sylvanus, born July 10, 1807, and whose death ocurred in Steuben County, N.Y., in his seventy-first year. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of John Horton, of Goshen, and had children, - Amasa and Frederic. The latter, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born in Montgomery, June 18, 1835, where the early years of his life were passed. Those years were uneventful in character, the winter being devoted to study or teaching, while the summer brought its routine of farm employments.

In 1865, Mr. Bodine, having become weary of agricultural labor, disposed of the farm, and removing to the village of Montgomery, embarked in business enterprises. During the same year, he entered the political arena as the Republican candidate for representative in the State Legislature, to which he was elected by a large majority. Here he represented his constituency with marked ability, and served on the committee on schools and colleges and towns and villages. In connection with the former he did signal service, being largely instrumental in the introduction of the bill in the behalf of the free-school system, which afterwards became a law, under which the State is now working. Mr. Bodine, in the fall of 1866, purchased a farm at Plattsburgh, N.Y., to which he removed, but the surroundings of his old home proving more congenial, he returned to Montgomery the following year and engaged in buisness. He has since been identified with the public interests of the township; is a director of the Walden Savings-Bank, has been railroad commissioner for the township of Montgomery since 1873, and has served as highway commissioner and inspector of elections. He was appointed, in 1880, supervisor of census for the Fourth New York District by President Hayes, including the counties of Ulster, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, and Delaware.

He was in 1870 elected justice of the peace, and still fills the office. Mr. Bodine abandoned mercantile pursuits in 1877, and began the study of law with Mr. Joseph M. Wilkin, Esq. He was admitted to the bar as attorney and counselor at the general term held in Brooklyn, February, 1880, and at once engaged in the practice of his profession. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and an earnest advocate of the principles of the party. He is an active and useful member of the Presbyterian Church of Montgomery, of which he is an elder. Mr. Bodine has been twice married. He was first united to Miss Mittie Graham, June 5, 1862, to whom was born a son, Theodore. Mrs. Bodine's death occurred Feb. 28, 1870, and he was a second time married, Nov. 16, 1870, to Mrs. Emma Decker of Montgomery.

From The Whig Press (Middletown, N.Y.) of 11 June 1862:
Married 5 June 1862 at Montgomery, Frederick Bodine and Mittie Graham, adopted daughter of Theodore Goldsmith of Montgomery.

Marriage Notices - Goshen Independent Republican 1866-1883:
- 16 Nov 1870 Hon Fred Bodine to Mrs George W. Decker at the home of the bride all of Montgomery.
- 10 May 1883 Frederic Bodine to Mrs. Mary Vanderoef at the residence of Mr James Vanderoef all of Montgomery.

From New York Federal Census Records:
1860 (9 Aug) Montgomery, Orange Co.: Frederick BODINE 25 NY Farmer, Sylvenus 55 NY, Sarah A. 53 NY.

1870 (27 July) Montgomery Co.: Fred Bodine 35 NY Hardware Merchant, Theo G. 5 NY

1880 (1 June) Montgomery, Orange Co.: Frederick BODINE 48 NY Lawyer, Emma 46 NY wife, Georgianna DECKER 21 NY stepdau, Theodore G. BODINE 15 NY son, Joseph M. DECKER 12 NY stepson.

The will of Emma Bodine of Montgomery, Orange County was written 23 March 1882 and therein named her husband Frederic Bodine, also appointed as executor; son Joseph M. Decker; daughter Georgianna Decker; and stepson Theodore Bodine of Washington at Valley Forge. The will was proved 9 Aug 1882. (Orange County Wills, vol. 45 [1882-1883], pp. 56-58.)

The will of Frederic Bodine of Montgomery, Orange County of 14 March 1895 names his brother Amasa H. Bodine of Prattsburg, Steuben County, wife Mary L. Bodine, dau. Sally Ann Harton Bodine (not yet 18) , son Theodore G. Bodine, stepdau. Mrs. Georgie D. Coleman of Cedar Spring, stepson Joseph M. Decker, stepson Harry W.Vanderalf, stepdau. Lizzie C. Vanderalf, and nephew Frederic Bodine and appoints his wife and son Theodore as executors. Proved 23 Jan 1899. [Orange County Wills, vol. 66 [1898-1899], pp. 52-57.]

Obituary, The Argus (Middletown, N.Y.) of 14 Oct 1898.
Mrs. Bodine, wife of Hon. Fred Bodine, of Montgomery, who was found Tuesday, in a field on the outskirts of Walden,suffering from laudanum poisoning, died at the Eagle Hotel in that village, Thursday. She had been ill for a long time and her mind was affected. She was the widow of a Mr. Vanderoef when she married Mr. Bodine and leaves children by each marriage, both, being daughters. Our Montgomery correspondent says that Mrs. Bodine was well known in that village and had a very large circle of friends. She was a very charitable woman and was one of the founders of the Dorcas Society, an organization which did much good in Montgomery last winter. The sad circumstances of her death cause great sorrow to all who knew and loved her and the bereaved family have the sympathy of all.

Obituary, The Argus (Middletown, N.Y.) of 6 Jan 1899.
Frederic Bodine, a lawyer, died Thursday at his home in Montgomery, it is said, from a broken heart. Mr. Bodine's wife, while mentally deranged, owing to continued illness, left her home several weeks ago and went on a train to Walden, where she took laudanum. She was found lying in a lot unconscious and died the following day. Mrs. Bodine's death so preyed upon her husband's mind that he practically gave up his legal practice from that time. He became apparently ill, and died as stated, his friends say, through sorrow over Mrs. Bodine's death. Mr. Bodine wan born in Montgomery, and was sixty-three years old. He had been a Justice of the Peace in his town for more than twenty-five years and served as a Republican member of Assembly from the First Assembly District of Orange county, in 1885.

Death Notice, The Evening Gazette (Port Jervis, NY) of Saturday, 5 Feb 1870.
DIED. Jan. 29.--In Montgomery, of billious pleurisy, Mattie, wife of Frederick Bodine, aged 33 years and 5 months.

Burials in Riverside Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Montgomery, Orange County.
(Find A Grave Memorial # 50547993)
Fredric Bodine Born June 18, 1835 Died Jan. 5, 1899
His Son Theodore Goldsmith Bodine 1864-1901
Sally Bodine Eager 1890-1972

(Find A Grave Memorial # 50547813)
Mittie Graham. Wife of Frederic Bodine. Died Jan. 29, 1870 Aged 33 Y'rs. 5 Mo's.
Mary L. Willcox. Wife of Frederic Bodine. Born April 19, 1848 Died Oct. 13, 1898