Notes for: Benjamin 'Frank' Bodine

Mary Zednick gave his birth date as August 5, 1848.

In the 1860 Census, Benjamin was living with his mother Christina and his brother and two sisters in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan. By the 1880 Census, he was married with a son and two daughters. He was a tailor.

In 1900, he and his family of three daughters and two sons were living on Joyce East Street: Benjamin was a tailor; Grace was a tailoress; Carrie was a typesetter; Minnie and Floyd were clerks in grocery stores; and George was in school. I think this reference to Minnie must really be referring to Frank. Minnie would have only been nine years old. This must be a mistake in the census or a misreading of it.

In 1910, Benjamin and his wife had one daughter and two sons at home on Signal Street in Battle Creek: Benjamin was a tailor in a shop, as was Grace; William was a dyer in a dye shop; and George was a presser in a tailor shop.

By 1920, it was just Anna and and Grace living together. Grace was a office girl in a dry cleaner shop.

Mary Zednick sent me the following:

An article in a Battle Creek, Michigan, newspaper in October 1901 read: B.F. Bodine - This honored businessman has been a resident of our city since 1856, having come west from Brooklyn, N. Y., with his parents at that time, when he was but nine years of age. He was the son of Howard and Christina Bodine. The father lived but two years in Battle Creek, meeting death by a fall from the house known as the Wm. Skinner residence, corner of Maple and Fremont-sts.

Mr. B. F. Bodine learned his trade, that of tailoring, of Messrs. Fred Zang and John Miller of this city. He afterward went to Mississippi, where he lived for five years, but, prefering to live in a northern state and with northern people, he left the southern clime, returning to Battle Creek, where he has carried on business ever since. Mr. Bodine has ever received a liberal patronage from his townspeople, as he is a tailor who understands his business thoroughly, and has ever striven to give entire satisfaction, and, too, he has the reputation of being honest in his deal. As Mr. Bodine's business has been one of long standing in the community his customers today are many of them the sons of his first patrons, and he stands as highly as a man and tailor in the estimation of the modern young man as did he when the Queen City was but a hamlet.

In Mr. Bodine's rooms, 23 Main-st west, he has samples to the number of 2,000, by which his patrons select suits. A way which enables a tailor to carry on an extensive business in limited quarters. He also carries a full line of piece goods from the best and most reliable wholesale houses, and is, therefore, will equipped to meet the wants of the public.

Mr. Bodine is a respected and useful citizen of the vicinity, where he has many friends who wish him continued success in his business.

In September of the year 1874, Mr. Bodine and Miss Annie E. Eastmead were married in Meridian, Mississippi.

The bride was a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. Six children have been born to them, four boys and two girls, all living in Battle Creek.

The following comes from the Mary Zednick at her Reynolds and Salter database at WorldConnet on Rootsweb:

1860 Federal Census:
Living in the City of Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan, with his mother Christina (age 36), brother George (age 7), and sisters Sarah (age 5) and Carrie (age 2). Benjamin is age 12.

1880 Federal Census:
Living in the 5th Ward, City of Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan, 20 Hall Street with his wife Anna (age 30), son Frank (age 5), and daughters Gracie (age 3) and Carrie (age 1). Benjamin is a tailor, age 32.

1900 Federal Census:
Living In Battle Creek City, Calhoun County, Michigan, 30 Goguac East, with wife Anna (age 62), daughters Grace (age 23), Carrie (age 20), and Minnie (age 18), and sons Floyd (age 16) and George (age 13). Benjamin is a tailor, age 62.

1910 Federal Census:
Living in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan, 30 Goguac Street, with wife Anna (age 60), daughter Grace (age 28) and sons William (age 26) and George(age 24). Benjamin is a tailor in a shop, age 62.

Per the R. L. Polk & Co. city directories for Battle Creek, Benjamin F (wife) is living in the following places for the years noted and occupations:
1901/02 - Merchant Tailer, Fine Woolens a Specialty, 23 Main w. Tel Mich 1243, owns a house at 30 Goguac e. Tel h Mich 1154 (page 96)
1903/04 - (Anna) Merchant Tailor, Fine Woolens a Specialty, 23 Main W., owns a house at 30 Goguac e. (page 125)
1904/05 - (Anna) Merchant Tailor, 23 Main W., owns a house at 30 Goguac e. (page 123)
1905/06 - (Anna A) tailor 39 Jefferson av S., owns a house at 30 Goguac e. (page 109)
1907 - (Anna A) tailor, owns a house at 30 Goguac E. (page 114)
1908 - (Anna A) tailor 2 Thomas blk, owns a house at 30 Goguac E. (page 115)
1909 - (Anna A) tailor 2 Thomas blk, owns a house at 30 Goguac E. (page 110)
1910 - (Anna A) tailor L W Robinson Co, residence 30 Goguac E. (page 121)
1911 - (Anna A) tailor G E Bodine, residence 30 Goguac E. (page 110)
1912 - (Anna A) TAILOR, 4 CENTRAL Natl Bank Bldg, Men's Fine Tailoring, suits Made to Order from $14.50 up, residence 30 Goguac E. (page 117)
1913 - (Anna A) tailor, residence 30 Goguac E. (page 123)
1914 - (Anna A) tailor Trivers System Clothes Shop, residence 30 Goguac E. (page 128)
1915 - (Anna) residence 30 Goguac E (page 130)

From Ronny Bodine:

An article in a Battle Creek, Michigan, newspaper in October 1901 read:
B.F. Bodine - This honored businessman has been a resident of our city since 1856, having come west from Brooklyn, N. Y., with his parents at that time, when he was but nine years of age. He was the son of Howard and Christina Bodine. The father lived but two years in Battle Creek, meeting death by a fall from the house known as the Wm. Skinner residence, corner of Maple and Fremont-sts.
Mr. B. F. Bodine learned his trade, that of tailoring, of Messrs. Fred Zang and John Miller of this city. He afterward went to Mississippi, where he lived for five years, but, prefering to live in a northern state and with northern people, he left the southern clime, returning to Battle Creek, where he has carried on business ever since. Mr. Bodine has ever received a liberal patronage from his townspeople, as he is a tailor who understands his business thoroughly, and has ever striven to give entire satisfaction, and, too, he has the reputation of being honest in his deal. As Mr. Bodine's business has been one of long standing in the community his customers today are many of them the sons of his first patrons, and he stands as highly as a man and tailor in the estimation of the modern young man as did he when the Queen City was but a hamlet.
In Mr. Bodine's rooms, 23 Main-st west, he has samples to the number of 2,000, by which his patrons select suits. A way which enables a tailor to carry on an extensive business in limited quarters. He also carries a full line of piece goods from the best and most reliable wholesale houses, and is, therefore, will equipped to meet the wants of the public.
Mr. Bodine is a respected and useful citizen of the vicinity, where he has many friends who wish him continued success in his business. In September of the year 1874, Mr. Bodine and Miss Annie E. Eastmead were married in Meridian, Mississippi. The bride was a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. Six children have been born to them, four boys and two girls, all living in Battle Creek.

Burials in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan
Benj. F. Bodine 1847-1915 Anna A. Bodine 1847-1920

Michigan Death Certificates: Benjamin Franklin Bodine, born 5 Aug 1847 in NY, son of John H. and Christina (Van Valkenburg) Bodine, husband of Grace, died of angina pectoris.
Anna Amelia Bodine, born 8 July 1848 in Brooklyn, NY, daughter of George Eastmead and ___ Plowman; died 8 July 1920 of a vascular heart disease.

From Michigan Federal Census Records:
1900 (9 June) Battle Creek, Calhoun County: Benjamin F. BODINE Aug 1847 NY married 25 years tailor, Alberta July 1847 NY wife married 25 years 9 children born/7 living, Grace Jan 1877 MI dau tailoress, Carrie June 1879 MI dau typesetter, Minnie Dec 1881 MI dau clerk-grocery, Floyd Feb 1884 MI son clerk-grocery, George Aug 1886 MI son.

1910 (15 April) Battle Creek, Calhoun County: Benjamin BODINE 62 NY married1-35 years tailor, Anna 60 NY married1-35 years 9 children born/6 living, Grace 28 MI dau tailoress, William 26 MI son dyer- dye shop, George 24 MI presser-tailor shop.

1920 (8 Jan) Battle Creek, Calhoun County: Anna BODINE 72 NY widowed; Grace 40 MI dau.