Notes for: Mary 'Ellen' Bodine

I have a very interesting story about William Shafer's tragic death with some info about Mary Ellen Bodine. It was sent to me by Judy Thompson. See the message below.

From: judy thompson [dunroven49 at hub3.net]
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2011
Subject: family info

Hello Dave

I was just looking at your genealogy page for John Bodine. I have been searching for some time for info on my great great grandmother Mary E Beck and was excited to finally find the name of her parents. I thank you very much for this info.

I will attach a couple items that will tell you more about my great great grandmother. Basically, Jesse Beck was Mary's second husband. Her first husband, William Shafer, was my great great grandfather.

The picture is of my grandmother holding my mother. I believe the other lady is my grandmother's grandmother, Mary Ellen Bodine Shafer Beck. My mom was born in 1928 so that would be the year this picture was taken.

Mary Ellen Bodine

I hope you find the attached useful.

Your distant cousin

Judy Thompson


From Ronny Bodine:

Mary E. Bodine, age 20 and single, lived with her family 1870 in Republic County, Kansas. On 1 Sept 1875, William Shafer was found floating in the water near Salt Creek. The men who found him said he had not drowned, rather, his head had been battered and bruised as with a club or fists. His widow aranged for his burial the next day in what is now Zion Cemetery. The grave is unmarked. Mary Shafer, with two small children, moved into the cabin of her late husband's parents and was soon being visited by Jesse Beck, whose property had bordered on her late husband's. There was much talk about why she left the spacious cabin her late husband had built. Mary Bodine Shafer married Jesse Beck and soon after moved to Cowlitz County, Washington Territory. (See "Inquiry Brings Forth History of Bizarre deaths n Shafer Family" in The Belleville Telescope of 19 Aug 1971.)

In 1880, Jesse and Mary Beck lived in Cowlitz County, Washington Territory where they engaged in farming and 1900 in Azusa, Los Angeles County, California where Jesse worked as a fruit grower. In 1900, Jesse reported that in 24 years of marriage Mary had borne 6 children of whom 4 were then living.

Children: Sarah (c1874), Samuel (c1877), John E. (Oct 1878), Jessie E. (Nov 1885).

***End of info from Ronny