Notes for: Freeman 'Edson' Bodine
His tombstone in Cook Center Cemetery in Schaller, Sac County, Iowa supposedly gives the dates Oct. 8, 1823 to May 20, 1904. His obituary, however, says he died on June 24, 1904 and that he was born on Oct. 8, 1822. It says he died at age 82y and 8m, but that would make his birth year in 1821. I think the 1823 date makes more sense and 1821/1822 was a mistake made by the informant for the obituary. The 1880 and 1885 censuses say he was 56 and 61 respectively making his birth year around 1824. The other censuses mentioned below by Ronny put his birth year at 1823 or 1824.
From Ronny Bodine:
In Sept 1860, Fremont E. Bodine, age 36, lived with his wife Elmira and their son Frank in Fayette, Seneca County, New York. In June 1870, as F. E. Bodine, he lived in Powieshek County, Iowa and remained there for the rest of his life. In June 1880, Freeman Bodine, age 57 and a widower, lived in Malcolm Township, Powieshek County, engaged in farming. In June 1900, Freeman Bodine, age 77, lived in Madison, Powieshek County in the home of his son Harry.
The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa, Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880, p. 858.
BODINE, F.E.--Malcom Twp. Farmer and stock-raiser, section 8, P.O. Grinnell. Born in Seneca county, New York, in 1823, and was there educated and raised. He has followed the pursuits of agriculture from youth. Was married, in 1858, to Miss A.M. Simpson. They have one child from this union, Frank. Mrs. Bodine died in 1861 and he was again married, in 1863, to Miss M. Sheley, of the same county. From this union he has two sons living: George G. and Henry. His second wife died January 15, 1879. He moved to Iowa in 1866 and settled in Davenport, where he resided about six months, then moved to his present location, where he owns a valuable farm of 160 acres, all under cultivation. He is now quite extensively engaged in the breeding of fine stock, is a man who is closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the county and takes a warm interest in the educational interests of his township.
Portrait and biographical record of Johnson, Poweshiek and Iowa Counties, Iowa, Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1893, p. 593-594.
FREEMAN E. BODINE is a prosperous and highly-esteemed citizen of Malcolm Township, Poweshiek County, residing on section 8. He was born near Ovid, Seneca County, N.Y., October 8, 1822, his parents being Gilbert and Harriet Swarthout Bodine. The father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was a son of Cornelius Bodine, of German descent. His family belonged to the persecuted Huguenots, who were expelled from France, afteward locating in the German Empire. The mother of our subject was born in Seneca County, N.Y., and was a daughter of Barney Swarthout, who was of Dutch ancestry. Both families when they first settled in the Empire State were slaveholders.
Freeman E. Bodine, of this sketch, spent his boyhood on his father's farm and received the common-school advantages. In the spring of 1850, getting the prevalent "gold fever," he left his home and went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. After mining with fair success for two years he abandoned that occupation on account of his health, and engaged in farming in the San Jose and San Juan Valleys. In November, 1856, he returned to New York, taking the Nicaraguan route. After remaining with his parents for a short time he turned his face Westward, and for a year lived near Aurora, Ill., after which, coming to this county, he purchased a farm in Malcolm Township, on section 8, which he has since made his home. On the place, which was then wild land, great changes have been made during the passing years, until it is now a well-improved farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres, which yield abundant tribute, for the care and cultivation bestowed upon them by the owner.
On the 3d of November, 1858, Mr. Bodine and Elmira M. Simpson, a native of Ovid, Seneca County, N.Y., were united in marriage. She was called from this life, March 13, 1860, leaving two children, a son and daughter: Frank, now of Chicago; and Cora, who is deceased. On January 8, 1862, Mr. Bodine was again united in marriage, Miss Margaret Shirley, also of Seneca County, becoming his wife at that time. Their union was graced by the birth of two sons: George G., now of Pocatello, Idaho; and Harry, who lives with his father. On January 15, 1878, the affectionate wife and tender mother was called to her final abode, her death taking place in Fayette, in her native county. She was a beautiful Christian, who had the love and admiration of all who had the great pleasure of making her acquaintance. Mr. Bodine is a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and is much interested in the Farmers' Alliance, of which he is a member. He is highly esteemed as a citizen for his personal qualities of sterling worth and unquestioned merit.
Obituary, The Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) of 24 June 1904.
FREEMAN E. BODINE
Freeman E. Bodine was born near Ovid, Seneca county, New York, on the 8th of October, 1822. His ancestry belonged to the persecuted French Huguenots who had been expelled from France and had settled in Germany where the ancestry received a strain of sturdy German blood. The boyhood of Mr. Bodine was spent on his father's farm in New York and his education was that obtained by attending the rural schools. Like many another young man he contracted the gold fever and went to California in 1850 by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He had varying success in digging gold but was compelled on account of his health to abandon his search for wealth and engage in farming for his health in San Jose valley. In 1856 he returned from California by way of Nicaragua and after spending a short time with his parents started for the west, coming first to Aurora, Illinois, where he remained a year. In 1857 came to Malcom township where he purchased the farm which has been his home for forty-six years. He has been a most successful farmer as his two hundred and forty acre farm, well improved and stocked gives abundant evidence. Mr. Bodine was married in 1858 to Miss Elmira Simpson who died two years later leaving two children. In 1862 Mr. Bodine was again married to Miss Margaret Shirley and this union was blessed with two children. The mother passed away in 1878. Mr. Bodine lived a long life of usefulness and died Friday at his home in Malcom township at the age of 82 years and 8 months. He is survived by his sons Frank and George of Wyoming and Harry who has lived at home with his father.