PETER B. ERVIN, harness-maker, Catawissa, was born August 21, 1864, in Catawissa, a son of John and Henrietta (BODINE) ERVIN, natives of this county, and of German and English descent. His great-grandfathers came from the old country and settled in this county, near Catawissa, and Jonas METZ, a brother to his great-grandmother, was the first farmer in the vicinity of Catawissa, and lived and died here. The great-grandfather lived to be ninety-four years of age, and was a soldier in the Revolution. Our subject's maternal grandfather was a cabinet-maker but during the latter part of his life followed farming. His paternal grandfather, Isaac ERVIN, is yet living at the age of eighty years; is stout and strong, and does a good deal of his farming. He owns a farm, a part of which lies in Locust Township and a part in Catawissa. He learned the mason's trade and worked at it in his younger days. He helped to build the furnace at Danville, and, while so engaged, he had three ribs broken and was otherwise injured. Our subject's father was born on the homestead in Locust Township, and learned the carpenter's trade. He served in the war of the Rebellion, and after marriage moved to Catawissa, where he since worked at his trade. He is now employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, as car builder. Our subject was reared in Catawissa, attended school until seventeen years in the confectionery business. In October, 1885, he commenced to learn the harness-making trade, and has since been engaged in making and selling harness. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; is also a member of the P. O. S. of A. In politics he is a Republican.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 Catawissa Township pg. 399)
Here are some photographs of what could be this Peter's stone from Union Cemetery. My thanks to Brian Bodine for sending these in. You can see that the stone is in pretty bad shape. Since this stone is so worn, I wonder if it could even be the grave of this Peter's possible son, Peter Bodine, who may have died young. I'm surprised his stone would be so worn when stones from earlier are not this bad. My thanks to Brian Bodine for these photos.
From Ronny Bodine:
On 7 Jan 1833, Peter Bodine filed a petition with the court stating he has four minor children under the age of 14--Elizabeth, David C., Charly and Brittain and that they are entitled to a share of the estate of their grandfather David Cleaver, deceased, and requests he appointed their guardian to pursue this claim. The petition was approved. (Columbia County Orphans Court Dockets, vol. 1, p. 306)
In Nov 1836, he again appeared before the court as guardian of Elizabeth, David C., Charles and Brittain, minor children of Rebecca Bodine, who was a daughter of David Cleaver, decd, and petitioned to sell land of David Cleaver, their grandfather, so as to distribute the money among his four minor children towards their education and welfare. The petition was approved. [Columbia County Orphans Court Dockets, vol. 2, p. 30]
Burials in Union Cemetery, Catawissa, Columbia County.
Peter Bodine Died Dec. 8, 1864 Aged 67 Yr. 10 Mo. 7 Da.
Anna M. Bodine Died Jan. 22, 1892 Aged 87 Yr. 5 Mo. 7 Da.
From Pennsylvania Federal Census Records:
1830 Catawissa Twp., Columbia Co.: Peter BODINE males 2(0-4), 1(5-9), 1(30-39); females 2(5-9), 2(20-29).
1840 Catawissa Twp., Columbia Co.: Peter BODINE males 1(5-9), 2(10-14), 1(40-49); females 2(0-4), 1(15-19), 2(30-39).
1850 (4 Nov) Catawissa Twp., Columbia Co.: Peter BODINE 53 NJ Farmer, Anna M. 41 NJ, Chas. 21 PA, Britain 15 PA, Hannah R. 14 PA, Sarah 10 PA, Jno. 8 PA, Wm. 6 PA, James D. 0 PA
1860 (15 Aug) Catawissa Twp., Columbia Co.: Peter BODINE 65 NJ Farmer, A.M. 50 NJ, H. E. 24 NJ, Jno. 17 PA, Wm. 16 PA, J. D. 11 PA.
1870 (29 June) Catawissa Twp., Columbia Co.: John ERVIN 32 PA Carpenter, Henrietta 34 PA, Peter B. 5 PA, Isaac G. 9/12 (Sept.) PA, Hannah WOLFLAN 12 PA, Hannah M. BODINE 60 PA, James D. BODINE 20 PA Tobacco Merchant.
1880 (18 June) Catawissa Twp., Columbia Co.: Anna M. BODINE 70 NJ widowed, John ERVINE 42 PA son-in-law Carpenter, Hannah H. 43 PA dau, Rose 22 PA gdau, Peter B. 15 PA gson, Isaac G. 10 PA gson.
Death Notice, Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser (Bloomsburg, Pa.) of 24 Dec 1864.
In Catawissa, on Saturday, the 10th of December, Mr. Peter Bodine,--a very worthy citizen, aged about 68 years.
Obituary, The Columbian (Bloomsburg, Pa.) of 29 Jan 1892.
Mrs. Anna M. Bodine died on Thursday morning of last week, at the ripe old age of 82 years, 5 months and 25 days, after a short illness. For some years past she had been quite feeble, and her death was due to the effects of a heavy cold. The funeral took place on Monday last, at 10 o'clock, from the residence of John Ervin, where deceased had made her home, since the death of her husband, twenty-seven years ago. Services were held in St. Matthew's E. L. church which was filled to the doors with relatives and friends. Rev. Myers preached the funeral sermon, which was an unusually fine discourse, and was assisted in the services by Rev. P. A. Heilman, Bloomsburg, and Revs. Moses and Neiman, of this place. The interment took place in the Union cemetery beside her husband. Deceased was a noble woman, possessed of a kindly, loving disposition she made friends of all, and though ripe for the harvest her death is deeply mourned by the entire community, by whom she was loved and respected. For sixty-seven years she had been an earnest and consistent member of the Lutheran church, and with her husband was a charter member of St. Matthew's E. L. church. Five children survive her--Rev. J. V. Bodine, Tallmans, N.Y.; William F. and J. Dallas, Bloomsburg; Mrs. Jacob Ervin, Milton; and Mrs. John Erwin, of this place.