Notes for: John Bodine
John is in the 1880 Census of Camden, NJ. Both his parents are from New Jersey. His wife is listed as Emeline. Both her parents are also listed as born in New Jersey.
This appears to be the William (sic?) and Emeline (or Eveline) Bodine mentioned in the 1860 Census of Camden County, Newton Township (roll 686, p. 847). They had children Anne (15), Benjamin (13), Jacob (9), Sarrah (4), Samuel (2), and David (1). John was 33 and Emeline was 34.
From Ronny Bodine:
John Bodine's age varied greatly over the decades. In July 1860 he was 33, in July 1870 he was 40, in June 1880 his age was 46 and in June 1900 his birth was recorded as Aug 1836, aged 63. When comparing the ages of his children it seems likely that his age of 33 years in July 1860 was more correct and that his birth date in June 1900 should have been Aug 1826, age 73. John Bodine lived with his family all of his life in Camden County. In 1860, in Newton Township he worked as a day laborer, in 1870 in Camden he worked in a feed store, in 1880 he operated a hotel and in 1900 he worked again as a day laborer.
Emeline's 1st marriage took place in Camden County on 5 June 1845 to Benjamin Kellum. This marriage produced 3 or 4 children, Anna (c1846), Benjamin (c1847), Jacob (c1851), and perhaps Sarah (1855). It is believed that about 1855-1856 Benjamin and Emeline Kellum either divorced or Benjamin died, though no record to support this has yet been found. Emeline Kellum and John Bodine appear then to have started living together as in 1860 the family lived as man and wife in Newton, Camden County. It was only the following year, on 3 May 1861 in Camden County, that they married. But by this time two children had been born, Samuel in 1857 and David in 1860. It is unclear if Sarah was fathered by Kellum or Bodine. After their marriage, another three children followed. It is known that Benjamin and Jacob, though living with John Bodine and Emeline in 1860, and having been recorded in the census as Bodine, retained their birth name of Kellum. In 1880, Benjamin and Jacob lived with the Bodine family but this time were recorded with the name of Kellum. Both Benjamin and Jacob Kellum joined the Camden Fire Department and Benjamin rose to be 2nd Assistant Chief Engineer, a position he held at his retirement in 1903. He died in Camden in 1909. Jacob Kellum was serving as a fireman in 1900 and was unmarried. Whereas Benjamin and Jacob retained the name of Kellum, Samuel and David were named Bodine, as were the younger children.
A DNA test undertaken in 2009 by Charles Brian Bodine, a great-grandson of Samuel Bodine, when compared to the results of others descended from earlier generations, showed a perfect 25-marker match thereby proving their Bodine paternal heritage.
It is also important to note here that at the death of Elizabeth, the widow of Charles A. Bodine (son of John and Emeline Bodine), in 1902, the newspaper obituary reported her funeral services would take place at the home of her brother-in-law, Benjamin L. Kellum, who was indeed her husband's half-brother.
Obituary, The Morning Post (Camden, NJ) of Friday, 26 March 1915.
The funeral of John Bodine, aged 75 years, who died on Wednesday, will take place on Sunday afternoon from the parlors of B. F. Schroeder & Sons, Fourth and Arch streets. Mr. Bodine was well known in this city. He was the father of David Bodine, the saloon-keeper, of 1425 Mt. Ephraim avenue, and Samuel Bodine.
John Bodine was buried 24 March 1915 in an unmarked grave in Arlington Cemetery, Pennsauken, Camden County. Emaline Bodine was buried next to her 1st husband, Benjamin Kellum, in New Freedom Cemetery in Winslow Township, Camden County.